Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
The Lehman College baseball team (8-16 Overall, 3-8 CUNYAC) split a pair of crucial conference games with Baruch College (10-15 Overall, 4-4 CUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon at MCU Park, defeating the Bearcats 9-2 in the opener but falling in game two by a score of 12-11 in eight innings.
In the first game of the day, Lehman College ace Brian Cubero got the call and, just as he has done most of the season, he came through in a big way, hurling a complete game by tossing seven innings and allowing just two runs (both earned) while scattering six hits, walking five, and striking out 10. Kellin Bliss got the start and took the loss for Baruch College, tossing a complete game (seven innings) and allowing nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits while walking four and striking out eight.
With the game tied at one apiece in the top of the fourth, the Lightning would take the lead for good by plating five runs in the inning to take a 6-1 advantage. The first run of the inning came thanks to a one-out RBI single by Raul Cordero that scored Matthew Arvelo. Miguel Sanchez had an RBI single later in the inning, and Bobby Villante drove in a run by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jeremy Lopez would also pick up an RBI by drawing a bases loaded walk. After three and a half innings of play, Lehman led 6-1, and advantage the Lightning would not relinquish.
Offensively for Lehman College in game one, it was Jhon Comas Disla hitting a homerun and finishing 1-for-4 with a run scored and three runs batted in. Miguel Sanchez singled twice, scored a run, and drove in two, and Raul Cordero went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Game two of the day saw the Lightning show a tremendous amount of heart, but in the end the team suffered a loss that pushed the club to the brink of elimination as it pertains to the CUNYAC playoff picture. Francisco Sanchez got the start for Lehman College and he struggled in seven-plus innings of work, allowing 12 runs (10 earned), on 11 hits while walking four and striking out three. Ryan McGuire got the start for Baruch College and took a no decision, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits while walking four. Jeffrey Merker got the win for the Bearcats as he hurled 1.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out two.
Lehman College, trailing 9-3 as the game headed to the top of the seventh inning, plated seven runs in the frame to take a 10-9 lead in shocking fashion. With the Lightning trailing 9-3, there were runners on first and second with one out, and Amadoernesto Guzman would pick up an RBI double to cut Lehman's deficit to five at 9-4. Then, with runners on second and third and one out, Matthew Arvelo hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 9-5 game, and the Lightning were down to their final out.
Raul Cordero would then step up to the plate and hit a double, scoring Guzman, and making it 9-6. George Flores would follow that up with a double of his own, as Cordero trotted home, and Baruch College's lead was down to two, at 9-7. Miguel Sanchez would then step up to the plate and homer, tying the game at nine apiece. At this point, the Bearcats made a pitching change, as Merker came in for Mcguire. The Lightning weren't done scoring, however.
With the bases clear, Angel Ramos would single and steal second. After Bobby Villante was hit by a pitch, Jeremy Lopez would pick up an RBI single to give Lehman the lead. Comas Disla would then pop out to end the inning. Baruch College tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when with two outs and nobody on, McGuire's RBI single which scored John Avona would tie the game at ten.
Lehman College would take the lead back in the top of the eighth when with runners on first and second and two outs, Sanchez would reach base via an error by Justin Torres, and scoring on the play would be Rivera, as the Lightning went up 11-10. In the bottom of the eighth, with runners on second and third and nobody out, Comas Disla relieved Francisco Sanchez. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and one out, Richard Melendez would hit a two-RBI single, winning the game for the Bearcats.
Offensively for the Lightning in game two, it was Sanchez having his best game as a member of the team as he finished 3-for-5 with a homerun, two doubles, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Raul Cordero had three hits, including a double. He also scored a run and drove a run in, and Guzman doubled, singled twice, scored two runs, drove in a run, and walked.
For the Bearcats, Avona tripled twice, picked up three hits overall, scored four runs, drove in a run, and stole two bases. David Chestnut doubled, singled, scored a run, walked, and drove in a pair as well.
The playoff scenario for the Lightning is now simple: Lehman College must beat Baruch College tomorrow afternoon at the South Field in the Bronx, and the College of Staten Island must defeat the Bearcats in all three games of their three-game set when the teams meet in a week. Lehman will finalize a three-game series with the Bearcats tomorrow at home, with first pitch scheduled for noon.
