BASEBALL

PURCHASE, NY -- Host Manhattanville College built a 9-2 lead and held off a late King's College rally as the Valiants gained a 12-10 victory in a Freedom Conference baseball game Friday in Purchase, NY.

With the win, Manhattanville clinched the top-seed in the Freedom Conference playoffs with a 23-11 overall record and a 12-4 league mark. The Monarchs, meanwhile, slipped to 17-18-1 overall and 7-9 in Freedom play but still remain alive for a playoff berth.

The series will then continue Saturday at King's with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Betzler Fields with the Monarchs likely needing a sweep to qualify for the post-season.

Manhattanville scored three run sin each of the first, second, and fourth innings. King's score two runs in the fourth when Rob Bergman and Eric Matula delivered RBI singles. The Monarhs added four runs in the fifth inning when Matt Livy led off with a solo home run; Jon Venarchick singled and Pat McGlynn doubled. Gracjan Kraszewski and Matt Unger followed with RBI singles before Bergman drove in another run with an infield out to cut the Valiant lead to 9-6.

After Manhattanville score one run in the fifth and sixth innings, the Monarchs responded with four more in the eighth. J.R. Graver would led off with a solo home run before Venarchick drew a walk and McGlynn singled. Kraszewski then followed with a two-run double while Unger delivered an RBI singe to bring the Monarchs to within 11-10.

But in the bottom of the eighth inning, Manhattanville added an insurance to take a 12-10 lead.

King's attempted to answer in the ninth when Bergman led off with a single. Two batters later Graver would ground out into a double play to end the game.

Kraszewski led King's 17-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. Unger followed at 3-for-4 with two RBI. Matt Colgan was 2-fpr-4 while Livoy finished 2-for-5.

Dan Jenkins was the losing pitcher, allowing nine runs, seven earned, on nine hits in four innings

The Monarchs, meanwhile, are looking to battled their way out of a huge playoff log jam with the top four teams gaining post-season berths. Arcadia is 9-7 in the Freedom Conference while Wilkes and DeSales are 8-8. King's and Delaware Valley are all 7-9.

King's won its seasons against DeSales and Delaware Valley, but dropped their series' to Arcadia and Wilkes.