Apr. 2, 2011

Box Score Gm. 1
Box Score Gm. 2

For the first three innings of the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, Coach Claudio Barbieri's gang looked every bit like a team rising to the challenge of taking on a Farmingdale Rams squad that stood at 14-2 entering the day's action.

It was the remaining two innings, however, during which time the Rams plated 10 runs, that was the Lightning's undoing and sent the team to its fifth straight loss, 12-3.

The Lightning came out aggressive at the plate as Vania Cadet opened the game with a double, followed by a single from Nicole Pinero, a walk from Natalie Martinez, and a run-scoring walk from Genesis Batista. Jelsey Cox then drove home Pinero with a sac fly to right, and with one out, heads up baserunning by Martinez allowed the Lightning to steal a run when Batista was caught stealing at second. Just like that, the Lightning had a 3-0 lead.

After Farmingdale scratched out single runs in the first and second, the Lightning still held a 3-2 lead through three and a half innings.

But in the fourth, the Rams put together a five-run inning, with the big blow – a three-run triple – coming off the bat of Madison Snyder. The Farmingdale junior was in the middle of things again one inning later, as her three-run homer capped a second straight five-run inning for the Rams. Her long ball was also the final hit needed for the cycle and finished off a 4-for-4, 7 RBI performance.

Having found its groove, Farmingdale continued rolling in the second game, plating nine runs in the opening frame on its way to a 19-0 win. In addition to a two-run double from the hero of the first game, Snyder, the Rams also got a three-run home run from Jennifer Jarczynski.

The nine runs would prove to be more than enough for Farmingdale's senior starter, Nicole Farber, who struck out nine Lightning batters over five no-hit innings to pick up her first win of the season.

For good measure, Snyder would add a two-run shot of her own two innings later.

Martinez and Batista took the losses for Lehman, with Martinez dropping to 1-4 while Batista fell to 0-3.

Over the two games, Lehman committed only three errors, a significant improvement for the team.

Lehman returns home to face St. Joseph's of Brooklyn for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday.