Box Score Purchase, N.Y. -- The Lehman College baseball team went ahead early in the first inning, but fell behind quickly and their rally late in the game fell short in a 12-9 loss to Manhattanville Wednesday afternoon.

The game ended in eight innings due to darkness. With the loss, the Lightning fell to 7-20 overall, while the Valiants move to 13-15.

Christopher Lopez led the team in a losing effort, going three-for-four with a run scored and three RBI all on a three-run home run.

Jeffrey Ledesma drove in two runs for the team, while Juan Arias (home run) along with Steve Cuello (three hits, two runs), Natanael Toribio and Brandon Castillo each plated a run. On the mound, Rich Villar struck out six batters over three innings of relief while allowing just one hit.

Lehman erupted in the top of the first inning, scoring four runs thanks to a Castillo RBI single followed by Lopez's three-run homer. The Valiants then responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Toribio would rip a double down the left-field line, and an error allowed Cuello to cross the plate to extend their lead to 5-3. However, Manhattanville grabbed control of the game with a six-run inning in the second.

Arias launched a home run in the fourth, and both Cuello (RBI) and Ledesma (two RBI) singled home runs in the sixth to bring it to within 10-9. They would allow two runs in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch, but the Lightning would not have a chance to respond due to darkness.

The team continues their long road trip tomorrow as they travel to Old Westbury to face the College of Old Westbury in a nonconference matchup. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. and live stats will be made available on Old Westbury's website.