WestConn Athletics

Danbury, CT (Apr. 30) — For the second game in a row Western Connecticut State Univeristy’s starting pitcher couldn’t complete the first inning, allowing two hits, five walks, and six runs while only recording two outs as the Colonials fell to visiting Manhattanville College 17-5 Wednesday evening at Westside Field.

By the time Manhattanville College had finished batting in the top of the first inning, it had scored more runs than WestConn would score in nine innings. Leading off the game with back to back walks, the visiting Valiants scored six runs on only two hits and were aided by two WestConn errors while sending 11 batters to the plate in the first inning. Josh Vaghi (Bethel, CT) started for the Colonials, but was replaced after facing nine batters and recording only two outs.

Sam McNeil (Gales Ferry) led off the first inning for the Colonials with a blast over the fence in left-center field and finished with two hits and two RBI’s, but Manhattanville’s pitching never allowed WestConn to mount a comeback.

In the third inning, Manhattanville had two on with one out when lead-off hitter Thomas Verrengia (Staten Island, NY) hit a double deep to the gap in right-center field. WestConn center fielder John Callahan (Shelton, CT) rifled the ball back to the infield where Zack Dandrea (Wanaque, NJ) cut down Manhattanville’s Frank Furbacher (Lord’s Valley, PA) at home as he attempted to score from first on the play. Two batters later the inning was over and the damage was limited to two runs.

The Colonials responded with two runs in the bottom of the third on back to back hits by Nick Ross (Oakdale, CT) and Matt Gardiner (Terryville, CT), a sacrifice fly by Pat Kantor (Southbury, CT), and a line-drive single to left by Rob Bedard (Uncasville, CT), but Manhattanville scored a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to push their lead to 13-3.

The Colonials scored single runs in the fifth and eighth innings, but couldn’t put together a rally that threatened the Valiants. In the seventh, Manhattanville added four insurance runs on four hits and a walk.

Justin Gray (Wappingers Falls, NY) pitched three strong innings for Manhattanville to record is third win of the season while Vaghi falls to 0-2 for the Colonials.

With this evening’s victory, Manhattanville’s season record now stands at 26-11. The Colonials fall to 15-21.

WestConn’s final home games of the season will be played on Thuradsay, May 1st, when it hosts Lehman College for an evening double-header. First pitch is slated for 4:00pm.

Manhattanville 17, Western Connecticut 5 (Apr 30, 2008 at Danbury, Conn.)
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Manhattanville...... 602 230 400  - 17 18  0      (26-11)
Western Connecticut. 102 010 010  -  5 13  3      (15-21)
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Pitchers: Manhattanville - Tim Quinn; Brendan Murnane(2); Joe Donnelly(3);
Justin Gray(4); Matt Musumeci(7); John Kain(9).
Western Connecticut - Josh Vaghi; Mike Baccaro(1); David Alarcon(5);
Miles Scribner(7); Josh Murray(8); Joe Postemsky(9). 
Win-Justin Gray(3-1)  Loss-Josh Vaghi(0-2)  T-2:55  A-50
HR WCSUBB - Sam McNeil.