Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
The Lehman College baseball team (4-10 Overall, 1-5 CUNYAC) split a pair of conference games with the Bloodhounds of John Jay College (5-17 Overall, 3-3 CUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon at American Legion Field, winning game one convincingly by a score of 14-5 before relinquishing an 8-1 lead in game two to fall 13-12. The Lightning's offense was spectacular in both games, as Lehman cruised to a game one victory, but a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh inning by George Flores won game two for the Bloodhounds in very bizarre fashion.
In game one, the Lightning were led by the gutsy pitching performance of staff ace Brian Cubero as he hurled a complete-game and got the victory, allowing five runs (just two earned) on six hits while walking a batter, hitting one, and striking out nine. Taylor Perez pitched four innings and received the loss for John Jay, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking a batter and striking out three.
At the dish for Lehman in the game-one blowout victory, it was Miguel Sanchez having a breakout game as he finished 2-for-3 with a grand slam homerun, a single, a run scored and six runs batted in. Amadoernesto Guzman finished 3-for-5 with three singles, two runs scored and a run batted in. Raul Cordero went 3-for-4 with three singles, three runs scored, a run batted in, and a stolen base. For the Bloodhounds, Xavier Perez picked up three singles in a 3-for-3 performance with a run scored, a stolen base, and two runs batted in.
In the final inning of the second game with one out and the bases loaded and John Jay trailing by a run (12-11), Benjamin Beiro hit a comebacker to the mound in what appeared to be a game-ending double play. Senior William Rivera threw the ball home to get the force at the plate, but the throw by the Lehman catcher to first base sailed well beyond the reach of Matthew Arvelo and into rightfield allowing Beiro to reach safely and the winning run to score all the way from first to win it for John Jay College. It was the second time in the last two innings John Jay came from behind. Lehman appeared well in control and was up 8-1 after four and a half innings.
But the large lead evaporated quickly as John Jay put up six runs in the bottom half of the fourth to make the score 8-7. A two-run single by Luis Guzman capped the big inning as John Jay was back in the contest. Lehman went back up by two in the top half of the sixth. But John Jay completed the comeback in the bottom of the sixth and move ahead 10-9. Guzman battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a bases loaded walk to force in Wilmer Chavez and give John Jay its first lead of the day. The lead did not last though as the Lightning struck three times in the top of the seventh to go up 12-10. In the bottom of the ninth inning, a walk, two hit batsmen and a single got John Jay a run with just one out and the bases loaded. And after a Lehman pitching change which brought in Rivera, the stage was set for Beiro who was the games final batter. After the catcher's throw sailed into right field, Xavier Perez scored from second base and Chavez hustled around from first to score the winning run.
Francisco Sanchez got the game two start for the Lightning and picked up a no-decision as he hurled 5.2 innings and allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits while walking three and striking out a batter. Alex Rodriguez went the distance for John Jay and he got the win, allowing 12 runs (seven earned) while giving up nine hits, walking three batters, and striking out six.
At the dish for the Lightning in the heartbreaking game two loss it was Jhnon Comas Disla finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, four runs scored, three runs batted in, and three stolen bases. Cordero, who was tremendous in the game one win, went 2-for-5, singling twice. For the Bloodhounds offensively in the come-from-behind game two victory, it was Perez going 3-for-4 with three singles, three runs scored, and a run batted in.
The Lightning will return to action on Tuesday afternoon as Lehman takes to the road to battle New Jersey City University in a non-conference game, with first pitch scheduled for 3:30pm.
