BELLEROSE, N.Y. – The Lehman College baseball team beat rival John Jay College on Saturday, 7-6, in a game played at the Padavan Preller Field, taking the season series, 2-1. The game was a non-conference affair, though it would be used in as a tie breaker, should John Jay and Lehman be tied at the conclusion of the regular season. However, Lehman is firmly entrenched in the #4 spot in the conference with a 4-5 record, while John Jay is in fifth place, currently 1-6.

Today, the Lightning (10-12 overall) jumped out to an early 7-1 lead through four innings, and never looked back. Leading off the game, junior speedster Kevin Hernandez (Bronx, N.Y./DeWitt Clinton) singled through the right side, then stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He then came home on a single by left fielder Socrates Peralta (Santo Domingo, D.R./Morris), and the Lightning were on the road to victory.

In the second inning, junior short stop Waldo Acosta (New York, N.Y./Bread and Roses) drew a bunt single with the bases loaded to score classmate Russbert Eugenio (Bronx, N.Y./Environmental Studies). Next, Hernandez blasted a ground rule double to plate two more runs.

Sophomore first baseman Nicholas Morales (Bronx, N.Y./Westchester Hebrew) then had an RBI single in the third inning, before Hernandez drove home yet another run. In the fourth, junior third baseman Alberto German (Santo Domingo, D.R./Cenapec) blasted an RBI single to complete the 7-1 lead.

John Jay would rally late, with three runs in the seventh, and two more in the eighth. But senior closer Michael Liang (Bronx, N.Y./Manhattan Center) took the mound to close out the game, getting the final four outs to earn the save. Senior Freddy Parra (New York, N.Y./George Washington) hurled the first five innings to earn the win. Parra allowed just one earned run while scattering three hits.

Hernandez was an offensive juggernaut today, with two hits and three RBI, walking twice, and scoring once. He added two stolen bases.

The Lightning look to continue to pile up wins, facing Yeshiva University in a CUNYAC matchup on Tuesday, April 16.