NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Eric Quatrone and Kennedy Tavarez scored two runs apiece, Brian Collado threw 7.0 innings and struck out four and the City College of New York rallied in the later innings to tie the game at 4-4. However, Lehman College scored two huge runs in the eighth and ninth innings to sweep the season series as the Lightning (9-9) downed the Beavers (3-18), 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at Father John Blanco Field in New Rochelle.
A triple by Jaquan Murphy in the seventh inning set the table for a comeback as the Beavers trailed by two. A fielding error by first baseman Freddy Parra allowed Murphy to score as Quatrone reached with the game now 4-3.
Quatrone stole second base and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Emmanuel Nwokelo walked to put runners at the corners with two outs. A double steal was on as Nwokelo stole second base successfully, allowing Quatrone to come around and score and tie the game at 4-4.
CCNY gave themselves a chance to tie the contest in the final frame as Kennedy Tavarez walked and Mike Smith singled to put runners at the corners with no outs. A catching error allowed Kennedy Tavarez to score and make it a one-run game. Clutch pitching by Michael Laing led to a strikeout and a hit-by-pitch. Yoribaldis Olivo singled to load the bases and put the winning run on second base. The bases would be left stranded as the Lightning took all three games in the series.
Collado went 7.0 innings and picked up a no-decision while reliever Dauris Tavarez (0-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs – one earned – in 2.0 innings. Right-hander Aneudi Garcia also picked up a no-decision after striking out five in 7.0 innings while throwing a season-high 126 pitches. Laing (2-0) earned the win after going 2.0 innings in relief.
Lehman struck first, scoring one run in the top of the first. However, the Beavers got off to a quick start as Quatrone and Kennedy Tavarez reached on back-to-back singles. A line out by Smith allowed both runners to advance one bag as Nwokelo stepped up to the plate. The first baseman was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Anthony Colon successfully put down a squeeze bunt, allowing Kennedy Tavarez to score and take a 2-1 lead.
The Lightning then scored two runs in the top of the second to take a 3-2 lead and added one run in the fourth inning to take a two-run advantage.
Down two, Murphy ripped a triple to left-center field to begin the frame.
Errors played a role in the later stages of the game as Lehman scored one run in the eighth and added a huge insurance run in the ninth to take a two-run lead going into the final frame.