WILKES-BARRE – Fourth-seeded Manhattanville advanced to the championship game of the Freedom Conference with a 5-3 victory over top-seeded DeSales University Saturday at King's College's Betzler Athletic Complex.
With the win, Manhattanville improved to 16-17 on the year and will face host King's at 1:00 p.m. for the conference title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Tournament. DeSales ended its season with a 22-13 mark.
Manhattanville scored in the game's first at-bats when Lindsay Zekus led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Samantha Howe then delivered a RBI single to give the Valiants a 1-0 lead.
In the Manhattanville third, Kim Angiolillo walked and moved to second on a bunt. An infield out moved pinch runner Erin Sidjak to third, but a DeSales throwing error on the play allowed the runner to score for a Manhattanville 2-0 lead.
DeSales looked to counter when Kate Steiner led off the bottom of third with a double. Kristin Schultz then followed with an RBI single to center to tie the game at 2-2.
In the top of the fifth for Manhattanville, Brianna Scapperotti reached base on a one-out single and moved to second on a base hit from Lindsay Zekus. Lynsey Schill then delivered a RBI double as Zekus moved to third. After DeSales brought in Christine Petrilla to pitch, Zekus then scored on a wild pitch to push the score to 4-1 as Schill moved to third on the play. After Jessica Van Galen and Howe drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Nicole Bifulco delivered an RBI single up the middle for a 5-1 Valiant lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Brianna Chilcoat drew a leadoff walk for DeSales and Steiner singled to advance Chilcoat to second. After both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch Schultz drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right to cut the score to 5-2. Jen Lococo walked for the Bulldogs and Petrilla followed with a RBI single to draw the Bulldogs to within 5-3.
In the bottom of the seventh for DeSales, Howe retired the Bulldogs in order as Manhattanville advanced to the championship game.
Zekus Bifulco, and Schill had two hits each for Manhattanville. Howe improved to 14-12, allowing six hits and striking out one batter.
DeSales was led by Steiner and Lococo with two hits each. Lococo was also the losing pitcher, allowing five runs on seven hits.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, May 6, 2011
Game 1: #1 DeSales def. #4 Manhattanville, 7-1
Game 2: #3 King's def. #2 FDU-Florham, 2-1
Game 3: #3 King's def. #1 DeSales, 4-2
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Game 4: #4 Manhattanville def.. #2 FDU-Florham, 3-2 (FDU eliminated)
Game 5: #4 Manhattanville def. #1 DeSales, 5-3 (DeSales eliminated)
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Freedom Conference Championship
Game 6: #3 King's vs. #4 Manhattanville, 1:00 p.m.
Game 7: Same Teams as Game 6 if necessary, 3:00 p.m.*
*Note: Game 5 winner must beat Game 3 winner twice
