NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – A five-run first inning, highlighted by Mike Smith's grand slam and Emmanuel Nwokelo's solo homer combined with Phil Martino's first career complete game gave the City College of New York (2-10, 1-3 CUNYAC) a 16-2 victory over Yeshiva University (2-6, 0-4 CUNYAC) in game two on Friday afternoon at Eagle Field on the campus of Salesian High School.
The back-to-back homers erased a 1-0 deficit in the opening inning and marked the second home run of the season for Smith and the first career collegiate long ball for Nwokelo, the reigning City University of New York Athletic Conference Baseball Rookie of the Week.
Smith finished 2-for-4 with a career-high five RBI, four coming on his first inning grand slam. The home run gave the Beavers a 4-1 lead. Nwokelo went 2-for-3 from the plate with three runs scored and Eric Quatrone, Yoribaldis Olivo and Jaquan Murphy also finished with multi-hit games.
Martino (1-2) went all 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs – one earned – and struck out five hitters in the victory. Adam Volk (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs – three earned – in 0.1 innings.
After scoring five runs in the first, the Beavers added two in the second frame before putting up one run in the third.
The Maccabees added one run to the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning before the Beavers batted around and scored eight runs in the sixth inning to run away with the victory, 16-2.
In game one, Andrew Mulvey (1-3) threw his second consecutive complete game and 16th of his career but late defensive miscues allowed the Maccabees to take game one, 6-5.
CCNY led 5-4 going into the top of the seventh as Mulvey looked to improve to 2-2 on the year but two errors came with runners on base as the Maccabees capitalized on the errors.
Kennedy Tavarez went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and stole two bags to give the junior leadoff hitter six for the season. In game two, the third baseman added three more runs to finish Friday's doubleheader with six. Nwokelo finished with five hits in the two contests.
Mulvey (1-3) was charged with the loss after striking out seven in 7.0 innings, allowing six runs, four of which were earned. Yossi Ciment (1-0) picked up the victory after going a scoreless 1.2 innings.
Yeshiva struck first on a three-run home run in the top of the first but the Beavers clawed their way back as Tavarez and Quatrone led off with walks and came around to score on a Anthony Colon single and throwing error, respectively, to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Yeshiva tacked on another run to make the contest 4-2 in the third before the Beavers tied the contest after Tavarez did something that has not been done by any CCNY player this season. After reaching base safely on a triple, the third baseman stole home as Yeshiva now led 4-3.
CCNY added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead heading into the final frame on two RBI ground outs.
However, things turned quickly as back-to-back singles put the go-ahead run at the dish. Leadoff hitter Yaniv Lautman singled to make it three in a row, but a fielding error in the outfield allowed Yeshiva to have the tying run 90 feet away from home plate.
Mulvey buckled down and struck out the following hitter before a throwing error allowed the Maccabees to complete the comeback and take a 6-5 lead. With runners in scoring position, Quatrone and Mulvey successfully pulled off a pickoff where the center fielder (Quatrone) comes up from behind the base runner and covers the bag.
Yeshiva held off the Beavers and took game one, 6-5.
The Beavers return to action tomorrow as they host SUNYIT (2-6) in a doubleheader at Randall's Island Field 53, beginning at 2 p.m.
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