Mar. 5, 2011

Box Score Gm. 1
Box Score Gm. 2

The Lehman men's baseball team opened its 2011 campaign on Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader against host Centenary College.

Lightning ace Brian Cubero received the starting nod in the first game and was more than up to the task against the Cyclones. The 6-foot-1 junior went the distance, allowing two runs while striking out 10 in Lehman's opening game 4-2 victory.

Centenary was first to get on the board, doing its damage in the third inning as Victor Nunez followed up Anthony DeSomma's two-out single with a two-run homer to put the Cyclones up 2-0.

Lehman came right back in the top of the fourth inning to tie the score thanks to an RBI single by Justin Moises and later a wild pitch by Cyclones starter Shane Solimani that scored Moises.

The game stayed deadlocked until Lehman's half of the seventh. Following a stikeout to start the inning by Onix Mejia, Brandon Negron walked and advanced to third on Christian Fadul's double to left field. Cyclones catcher Brian Lemay couldn't handle an offering from Centenary reliever Dan Chapman, allowing Negron to score the go-ahead run on the passed ball. The miscue also allowed Fadul to move up to third. After a walk and stolen base by Jhon Comas Disla, George Flores came through with an RBI single to plate Fadul and give the Lightning a 4-2 lead.

Handed a two-run cushion, Cubero set the Cyclones down in order in the bottom of the seventh, ending the game with a strikeout of Matt Andrews.

“Brian threw real well today,” said Lightning assistant coach Brian MacMurray.

The second game of the day did not go as smoothly for the Lightning as Centenary hurler Chris Sisco threw no-hit ball into the seventh inning to lead the Cyclones to the 11-0 win. Sisco's no-hit bid was broken up with two outs in the seventh by Raul Cordero.

Lightning starter Francisco Sanchez was never in command, allowing three runs and five walks in two innings of work. However, despite the rough outing, the coaching staff expects big things from Sanchez this season according to MacMurray.

“Francisco just didn't have it today,” said MacMurray, “but he is going to be a factor for us this year.”