BRONX, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | This time, the late comeback by the New Jersey City University baseball team came up short. The Gothic Knights trailed 7-1 heading to the top of the ninth inning and scored three runs, but the deficit proved too much to overcome as Lehman College edged NJCU, 7-4, in non-conference game on Wednesday played at Lehman's South Field.
NJCU (8-8), which has posted three large rallies in the late innings this season, outhit Lehman (6-5), 9-7, but the Lightning led 4-0 after three innings and 7-0 after five, and got a huge effort from sophomore left fielder Michael Liang (Bronx, NY), who batted 3-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs and a three-run homerun.
Sophomore right-hander RYAN MITCHELL (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) had thrown just 3.1 innings and allowed just two hits over his first four career starts. Called upon in the third inning after starting pitcher ALVIN CARRASCO (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) gave up the three-run homer to Liang for a 4-0 deficit, Mitchell more than doubled his season inning count. In 6.0 innings he allowed just two earned runs (three total) and four hits while striking out five versus one walk on 91 pitches.