NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Captain Mike Smith went 2-for-2 with two RBI, Eric Quatrone went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Jaquan Murphy picked up two bunt singles but as small ball continued to be a factor in games for the City College of New York but the Beavers (3-15) fell victim to the Knights of Mount Saint Mary College (6-7), 9-7, on Monday afternoon at Father John Blanco Field at Salesian High School.
Smith and Quatrone, who were hitting second and third, respectively, for the first time this season, provided much of the offensive spark for CCNY but the Beavers left 12 men on base and struck out 13 times.
Preston Zanon (1-2) picked up his first win of the season after going 2.2 innings out of the bullpen while right-hander Anthony Colon (0-3) was charged with the loss after allowing eight runs – seven earned – and striking out four in 6.0 innings.
The Knights struck first, plating seven runners in the first and second innings to take a 7-0 lead before the Beavers scored two in the bottom of the second.
Yoribaldis Olivo singled to begin the frame and stole second base. Olivo then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt/throwing error to put runners at the corners for CCNY. Damien Hudson-Ruiz then stole second and Murphy loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch. After two outs, Smith singled thru the right side to plate two runners to cut City College's deficit to 7-2.
Chipping away, the Beavers added two runs in the bottom of the fourth on two hits as the wind factored into runs. Hudson-Ruiz led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch and stole second base for the second time in the contest. Murphy reached on a bunt single and advanced to second base after the pitcher picked off Hudson-Ruiz.
Back-to-back walks to Tavarez and Smith loaded the bases and a pop up behind second base dropped for Quatrone to plate two runners as CCNY now trailed 7-4. Emmanuel Nwokelo was hit by a pitch to load the bases again but a great snag by third baseman Rocco Pepe ended the inning.
MSMC added a run in the top of the sixth to take a four-run lead, 8-4.
Rallying back, the Beavers scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth to cut their deficit to 8-6. With two outs, a walk to Smith and a single by Quatrone brought up Nwokelo. The freshman and Anthony Colon then recorded back-to-back RBI singles up the middle to plate Smith and Quatrone, respectively, as Mount Saint Mary now led by two runs.
Quatrone continued to be a highlight reel in center field as his diving catch ended the top of the seventh inning.
Small ball continued to be an advantage of CCNY as Murphy's bunt allowed Hudson-Ruiz, who reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a throwing error, to move to third base. Murphy stole second base and a high throw allowed Hudson-Ruiz to score to make it a one-run game.
However a crucial run was plated for MSMC in the top of the eighth as the Knights now had a 9-7 lead.
The Beavers return to City University of New York Athletic Conference action this weekend against Lehman College.
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