Purchase, NY
(March 14, 2018) – With snow on the warning track, flurries in the air and plenty of cold temperatures abounding, Purchase baseball was undeterred in its return to the diamond Wednesday.
Along the way, the Panthers earned some bragging rights, too, albeit sweating it out late. In the annual "Battle of Anderson Hill Road," Purchase had a masterful showing against neighboring rival Manhattanville, edging the Valiants, 9-8.
The victory showcased a sterling start for
Jonathon Deacon (SR/Lindenhurst, NY) on the hill and a nice afternoon at the plate for the Panther offense, which scored seven runs through the first four innings, including one in the first, two in the second and four more in the fourth for what appeared to be a comfortable lead.
The hosts added two in the sixth. Deacon took care of the rest through the eighth. He tossed seven strong innings en route to the victory. He struck out four.
But that win was almost in jeopardy late, as the Panther bullpen allowed eight runs in the eighth.
Bullpen theatrics aside, the Panthers get the bragging rights for the day, and will travel across the road to Manhattanville later in the season on April 17 for what should be another classic matchup in the rivalry.
Purchase closer
CJ Owens (SO/Ridge, NY) navigated around a base runner in the ninth, striking out one for the save. He stranded the tying run at third, inducing a ground out to end the game. Reliever
Michael Laskowski (FR/Floral Park, NY) also had a key strikeout to stop the bleeding and end the eighth for the Panthers.
The late innings looked nothing like the early innings.
Following a scoreless top of the first by Deacon, spark plug
Gregory Walsh (JR/Bethpage, NY) got the Panther lineup going. He walked, stole second and advanced to third on a single by
Dylan Flynn (FR/Smithtown, NY). Walsh would later score on a
Matthew Mulligan (FR/Bellport, NY) sacrifice fly.
In the second, Purchase's
Zack Dicanio (FR/Mastic Beach, NY) singled to third base.
Nick Tuozzola (JR/Milford, CT) reached on a fielder's choice. Dicanio advanced to second.
Later in the inning, Flynn reached on a fielder's choice, which plated another run. Tuozzola would also come around to score on an error, as the Panthers capitalized for two runs on one hit and two Valiant errors to seize a 3-0 lead.
Purchase took a stranglehold on the game in the fourth. Tuozzola walked.
Devin Merone (JR/Eastchester, NY) walked, putting runners on first and second.
Walsh then executed a perfectly placed bunt for a single. On the play, an error by the visitors helped Purchase extend the lead.
Flynn continued his hot day at the plate, smashing a two-RBI single up the middle for two more runs. A Mulligan single and a fielder's choice plated the fourth run of the inning. Four hits and one error had secured a seven-run Panther lead.
Flynn wasn't done. He tripled to left field to start the third and scored on a Mulligan RBI single. A sac fly by
Patrick Wallace (SO/Manorville, NY) scored Mulligan and made it 9-0.
Deacon was relieved in the eighth. The Valiants were happy to see him exit. They scored eight off the Panther bullpen over the final two innings, with all eight coming in the eighth. Manhattanville scored eight runs on two hits and two errors, capitalizing on walks and defensive miscues to make things interesting.
In the win, Purchase was led offensively by Flynn. He collected three hits and three RBI. Mulligan added two hits and two RBI.
Deacon improved to 3-0.
Purchase is now 7-3. The Valiants fell to 2-4.
The Panthers will now hit the road for a Saturday doubleheader at Lehman College. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
