NEW YORK – Brian Collado and Mike Smith combined to strike out 11 hitters as forced SUNYIT to strand 12 runners on base as the City College of New York (3-11) split its second consecutive doubleheader, defeating the Wildcats (3-7), 3-2, in game two on Saturday afternoon at Randall's Island Field 53.
Smith came in and shut the door for his first save of the season in 2.2 scoreless innings, two of those outs coming with the bases loaded and the tying run 90 feet away from the plate in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.
Collado (1-1), who was making his first start since City College's season opener on February 24, earned his first victory as a Beaver, striking out seven and allowing two runs in 4.1 innings while Smith recorded four strikeouts in 2.2 innings without allowing a hit. Joseph Szepe (1-2) was tagged charged with his second loss of the season after a complete game, striking out six with all three runs being earned.
Emmanuel Nwokelo continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-3 and recording his sixth consecutive multi-hit contest.
Kennedy Tavarez went 1-for-3 with two RBI as his two-run single in the third gave CCNY its first two runs of the contest and a 2-1 lead after the Wildcats scored one run in the first on a wild pitch. Smith followed with an RBI single, tacking on another run for the Beavers.
In the top of the fifth inning, Smith relieved Collado with runners in scoring position and one out. Smith struck Connor Passa out looking before a walk loaded the bases. Ryan Wegner then hit a dribbler down the first base line that hit the front of the bag, with Nwokelo stepping on first as the Beavers preserved their lead going into the bottom frame.
Beginning the final inning, SUNYIT led off with two base runners. With the tying run standing on second base, Smith struck out the following hitter before getting Phil Mascite to ground into a game-ending double-play as CCNY split the series, winning the second contest 3-2.
Game one saw Nwokelo go 2-for-3 with a triple, one RBI and a hit-by-pitch but the Beavers fell 11-5 after the Wildcats capitalized on CCNY's defensive miscues.
Nwokelo's triple was the first of the reigning City University of New York Athletic Conference Baseball Rookie of the Week's career while Chris Jimenez went 1-for-2 after coming in as a defensive replacement.
Tavarez (0-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs – two earned – in 3.2 innings while striking out six and Jeff Albrigh (1-2) earned his first win of the season after going 5.0 innings.
A messy second inning allowed SUNYIT to come around to score four times on one hit on two errors by the Beavers defense.
The Wildcats tacked on three more runs in the fourth as CCNY's two errors opened up the game for SUNYIT, giving them a 7-0 lead.
The Beavers put two runs on the scoreboard after Eric Quatrone led off the frame with an infield single. Kennedy Tavarez walked, moving Quatrone to second base. A passed ball allowed both runners to move to scoring position before Smith's groundout plated Quatrone. Nwokelo followed with an opposite field single to score Tavarez as the Beavers now trailed 7-2.
SUNYIT scored four runs in the fifth and sixth to take an 11-2 lead before CCNY scored one run on an RBI ground out by Matt Sola-Baker. The Beavers then added two runs in the final frame on a fielding error in the outfield but could not add more as the Wildcats took game one, 11-5.
The Beavers return to action on Monday, March 25th for a doubleheader against Albertus Magnus College.
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