Bronx, N.Y. – The Lehman College baseball team closed out its regular-season schedule with a doubleheader split against the College of Staten Island in the Bronx on Saturday. Lehman took the opener, 20-5 and dropped the rubber match, 7-1. Prior to game one, the Lightning honored the seniors: Rafael Delgadillo, Marcos Figueroa, Emmanuel Velasquez, Nataneal Toribio and Carlo Francisco.
Game one went to Lehman, 20-5. They scored in every inning but the fifth. After CSI went up 2-0 in the first, Lehman responded with six in the bottom of the inning. Michael Zerbo led off with a walk. He scored on a Mark Vargas RBI double. Two batters later, Francisco tied the score with a base hit that plated Vargas. David Rodriguez and Toribio each followed with singles and Lehman led, 3-2. After Euriel Murray walked to load the bases, Rob Kiernan brought in a run on a hit by pitch. The final two runs of the frame came on a wild pitch and passed ball.
The Dolphins scored another run in the second, pulling within 6-3. Lehman added two more in the second with a two out rally. After a pair of strikeouts, Francisco notched his second hit of the game, and Rodriguez blasted a homer over the wall. The score was 8-3.
CSI was held off the scoreboard in the third, as Lehman added two more to go up, 10-3. Julius Puryear laced a two-RBI single that scored Namir Garcia and Kiernan. The Dolphins added a run in the fourth and Jose Albrincole came in to relieve Velasquez. Albrincole would earn the win in relief. He threw the final four innings, allowing just one run. During a stretch, he retired nine straight.
Meanwhile, the Lightning erased any doubt of the outcome with a 9-run fourth. Rodriguez singled and stole second. Toribio followed with another hit. Garcia was hit by a pitch. For the second time in the game, Kiernan was plunked with the bases loaded. Later in the inning, Puryear and Toribio had RBI hits. Lehman added a run in the sixth on a solo shot by Rodriguez.
Albrincole improved to 4-3 with the win. In the game, Rodriguez went 5-5, drove in four and scored five runs. Toribio and Puryear each drove in three. The two sides combined to hit nine batters in game.
Game two went to CSI, 7-1. Rich Frommelt started and was tagged with the loss. He allowed six runs in 2.1 innings of work. Albrincole came on in relief and didn't allow an earned run in 3.2 innings of work. Jonathan Rogers also tossed a scoreless inning.
Lehman's run came after Puryear and Francisco hit consecutive singles. They moved to second and third on a groundout and Puryear scored on Toribio sacrifice fly. Rodriguez was on base twice in the game.
Lehman's baseball team returns to action on Thursday, May 3 in the first round of the CUNYAC championship.
