BOCA RATON, Fla. – Phil Mannelly recorded three hits and scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Lynn University's baseball team won its third straight, defeating Winona State, 7-6, Sunday afternoon at the McCusker Sports Complex. The Fighting Knights are now 10-7 on the season while the Warriors fall to 3-2.
Tied at six going into the Knights half of the ninth, Mannelly laid down a two-out bunt single as he beat out a barehanded catch and throw by the charging third baseman. The throw was off target to first as Mannelly advanced to second on the throwing error. The hit and run was on as Johnny Broderick made a late swing on a 2-1 pitch as Mannelly stole third and scored on the wild throw into left field.
Mannelly recorded three hits and scored three while driving in one to lead the Knights. Austin Smith, Anthony Boza and Richie McVey all had two hits apiece.
The win did not come as easy as the ninth inning rally was for the Knights. The Warriors went up 2-0 after the first but Lynn would tie it right back up in the second. McVey led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center and advanced to third on Dane Derstine's groundout to second. Eric Herrera then drove in McVey with a single to right and promptly stole second. He would then score on the next at bat as Mannelly connected on a single down the left field line to tie the score at two.
Winona State would answer with three runs in the fourth to give them a 5-2 lead but once again the Knights fought back with another two runs. Herrera started the rally with a one out walk as Mannelly then reached on a throwing error by the third baseman allowing Herrera to score all the way from first. The wild throw allowed Mannelly to advance to third and he came home on Broderick's RBI groundout.
Lynn would tie the game at five apiece in the fifth as Derstine singled to the third baseman, scoring Boza from third after he singled up the middle and got to third on McVey's two-bagger.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Sam Jones came into the game in relief of starting pitcher Colin McGowan and the Warriors retook the lead with a run on two hits. Jones would get of the bases loaded jam and went on to retire the final seven hitters he faced.
Down 6-5 in the eighth, Lynn tied it back up with a run on Smith's double to left center to score Mannelly who led off the inning with a single to left and advanced on Broderick's sacrifice bunt.
Shawn Kale struck out the side in the ninth to earn the win for the Knights as Mannelly scored the winning run in the Knight's final at bat.
The Fighting Knights are back in action tomorrow when the host Wilmington at 2:30 pm. Fans can follow the action by logging onto www.LynnFightingKnights.com
