PATCHOGUE, N.Y. - The Lehman College baseball team dropped a hard-fought game to St. Joseph's College of Long Island, 13-11, on Thursday evening. The Lightning led, 6-1, early in the game, but the Golden Eagles scored five runs in the sixth inning and tacked on two more in the seventh to earn the victory.

The Lightning (2-15) attacked quickly, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. With the first two hitters reaching base safely, senior outfielder Michael Liang (Bronx, N.Y./Manhattan Center) singled to left field, and senior outfielder Kevin Hernandez (Bronx, N.Y./DeWitt Clinton) was able to beat the throw to the plate to score, putting Lehman up 1-0. Junior outfielder Tom Liang (Bronx, N.Y./Manhattan Center) added to the Lightning's lead by hitting a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Socrates Peralta (Santo Domingo, D.R./Morris). Later in the inning, Lehman took advantage of a SJC miscue and scored a third run on an error.

Freshman designated hitter Miguel Melendez (Bronx, N.Y./Astor Collegiate Academy) put a cap on the frame by punching a single down the right field line, scoring junior catcher Jaime Maldonado (Tuckahoe, N.Y./Tuckahoe), to give Lehman an early 4-0 cushion.

The Golden Eagles (9-13) were able to get one run back in the bottom half of the first inning, but the Lightning countered by scoring two in the top of the third. The big blow of the inning came off the bat of Maldonado, who drove the ball to the gap in right center for a triple, scoring freshman infielder Thomas Montilli (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) to put Lehman back up by four runs.  Junior first baseman Justin Moises (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) tallied an RBI, via a sacrifice fly, to give Lehman a 6-1 advantage.

The Lightning continued the offensive outburst in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, senior second baseman Waldo Acosta (New York, N.Y./Bread and Roses) singled to center field, scoring Montilli. Later in the inning, Maldonado was able to score from third on a wild pitch, to extend Lehman's lead to 8-4.

In the top of the sixth, Melendez continued his hot hitting by driving in two more runs on a single to right field, to put the Lightning up 10-5.  

The Golden Eagles took control of the game from that point on, scoring eight of the next nine runs to take a 13-11 lead going into the ninth inning.

Down to their last out, Peralta kept the Lightning alive by driving the ball to center field for a base hit. Michael Liang came to bat representing the tying run, but he flied out to centerfield to clinch the victory for the hosts.

As a team, the Lightning registered 14 hits. Montilli had two of them, and scored three times. Maldonado scored three runs of his own and Melendez had three RBI.

The Lightning will continue their road trip with a conference doubleheader against CCNY on Saturday, beginning at 12:00 p.m.