Bronx, NY – The Lehman College baseball team will take on John Jay at noon in the opening round of the CUNYAC Baseball Championships.  The winner will have to turn around and face top seed Staten Island later this afternoon. 

Lehman (11-24) is the fifth seed although the Lightning took the season series from the Bloodhounds (11-23).  In the three meetings against John Jay, Lehman took both ends of a doubleheader in the games played at the South Field.  Lehman won the first game 9-6 and followed that up with a 10-8 victory.  The following day the teams met at Fordham University with John Jay prevailing 13-10. 

The Lightning are peaking at the right time.  Lehman has won three in a row including a pair over league leader Staten Island.  In Lehman's most recent outing the Lightning defeated the Hawks of New Paltz 15-9. Chris Lopez belted two home runs and drove in three runs, while Steve Cuello (homer) and Natanael Toribio also plated three runs apiece. Martin Bueno went three-for-three (single, double, triple) with three runs scored and two RBI. Jaime Maldonado drove in two, while Juan Arias and Jeff Ledesma recorded a run batted in each.  Jason Laguna secured his first win of the season after allowing three hits and striking out three through the first three innings. Chris Encarnacion came in later for three scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts to notch the save. Chris Rodriguez struck out five batters also in relief.

John Jay has dropped eight of their last nine. 

Fans unable to make the trip out to Staten Island can follow all of the action on line via live stats and live stream.  Should the Lightning win the first game against John Jay the same links will work for the contest with CSI later in the afternoon. 

 
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