BRONX, N.Y. – Mike Smith went 3-for-4 in game one with two RBI, Kennedy Tavarez was 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs in game one but the Lightning pitching staff stifled the Beavers all afternoon as the City College of New York (3-17, 1-7 CUNYAC) fell in Saturday's doubleheader to Lehman College (8-9, 4-3 CUNYAC), 12-4 in game one and 6-4 in game two.
After his performance in game one, Smith registered a bunt single and one RBI in game two as the captain has now recorded three consecutive RBI contests.
Andrew Mulvey (1-5) was tagged with the loss in game one after allowing six runs – five earned – while Wilfredo Gonzalez (3-2) struck out eight in 6.0 innings of four-hit ball.
Game two featured Felice Martino (1-4) register his second complete game of the season but the junior right-hander picked up the loss as Michael Santana (2-1) fired 7.0 innings, picking up nine strikeouts.
Game One
Wasting no time, Lehman batted around and scored five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-0 lead. The potent offense continued as the Lightning added one run in the second and two runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 10-0 lead.
CCNY would put up its first two runs of the contest in the top of the sixth contests as Tavarez and Smith hit back-to-back singles to begin the frame. Victor Vargas, who came in as a defensive replacement earlier in the game, loaded the bases after reaching on a hit-by-pitch. An error allowed Tavarez to score and left the bases loaded with no outs for Anthony Colon. Colon singled in Smith but that was all the Beavers could register in the inning as CCNY left the bases stranded.
A little too late, CCNY led off the seventh inning with a hit-by-pitch (Jaquan Murphy) and back-to-back doubles by Tavarez and Smith. Smith's two-bagger plated both runners, who were in scoring position when the catcher stepped in the batter's box.
Game Two
Continuing its hot hitting, Lehman plated one run in the first, two in the second and one in the third to take a 4-0 lead. Two insurance runs were added in the bottom of the sixth.
Looking for a shutout, Santana came out to shut the door as the Lightning looked to sweep the doubleheader.
Alberto Franco and Matt Sola-Baker singled to begin the seventh inning before a one-out walk to Murphy loaded the bases. Tavarez was then walked to plate Franco and keep the bases juiced for Smith. A bunt single plated Sola-Baker as CCNY now trailed 6-2 with one out and the bases still loaded in the final frame. Emmanuel Nwokelo, who entered hitting .400-plus, reached on a fielder's choice as another run was scored to put runners at the corners with two outs and the tying run at the plate. A strikeout ended the late rally by the Beavers as Lehman came out victorious, 6-3.
CCNY will host Lehman College in a nonconference contest tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Salesian HS in New Rochelle. Live stats will be provided courtesy of CCNY Athletics.
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