Game 1: Farmingdale State - 6, Lehman - 2
Game 2: Farmingdale State - 2, Lehman - 1 (F/11)
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team opened their 2019 season with a home 7-inning doubleheader against Lehman College this afternoon and earned a sweep. FSC won the first game 6-2 and followed with a 2-1 walk-off victory in the 11th of game two.
The Rams (2-0) opened the scoring of game one in the bottom of the first inning on a double steal as sophomore catcher Michael Amandola (North Babylon, N.Y.) took second and freshman designated hitter Patrick Leach (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) stole home. In the next at-bat, junior shortstop Brian Perez (Levittown, N.Y.) tallied a single up the middle to score Amandola and put Farmingdale State ahead, 2-0.
Still leading 2-0 in the fourth, FSC extended their advantage to 5-0 with a fielder's choice RBI by Leach, a sacrifice fly from junior left fielder Nick Attardi (Smithtown, N.Y.), and an RBI single up the middle by Amandola.
Lehman (2-9) responded in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs to cut their deficit to three, 5-2. After two singles by senior left fielder Geraldo Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) and sophomore right fielder Christopher Delgado (Bronx, N.Y.), Lightning senior first baseman Mark Vargas (Bronx, N.Y.) hit a two-run double to left.
FSC added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a pinch-hit RBI single by sophomore Ryan DePalma (Albertson, N.Y.) to go in front, 6-2.
After Lehman threatened with two runners on in the top of the seventh, FSC junior Joe Marino (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) came in for the final two outs to earn the save and give FSC the 6-2 victory.
Leach was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one run batted in, while Amandola had two hits, one run, and one RBI. Junior center fielder Jimmy Mattera (West Islip, N.Y.) went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Senior Matthew Constantine (West Babylon, N.Y.) (1-0) earned the win as he allowed just two runs in 6.1 innings on the mound.
For Lehman, Vargas and Rodriguez each recorded two hits in the loss.
With one out in the top of the first inning of game two, the Lightning loaded the bases with three walks but Marino entered the game in relief and forced a 5-6-3 double play to escape the jam.
With two runners on in the bottom of the inning, FSC junior left fielder Vincent Napolitano (Bellmore, N.Y.) hit a single through the left side but Leach would be thrown out trying to score to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
The game remained 0-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning. Farmingdale State junior right fielder Vincent Rice (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) hit a leadoff double and was later driven home on a sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Tyler Schrimpf (Miller Place, N.Y.) to give the Rams a one-run advantage.
Still down 1-0 in the top of the sixth, Lehman senior center fielder Namir Garcia (Elizabeth, N.J.) led off the inning with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt by junior designated hitter Ryan Ninivaggi (Bronx, N.Y.), junior catcher Anthony Riley (Bronx, N.Y.) hit a single to center field to move Garcia to third base. In the next at-bat, senior third baseman Emmanuel Frias (Bronx, N.Y.) grounded out to score Garcia and tie the game at 1-1.
Neither team recorded a hit until the bottom of the eighth inning when sophomore center fielder Cam Alfano (Yaphank, N.Y.) tallied a leadoff single. After a throwing error allowed Alfano to move to second, a sacrifice bunt by Leach advanced Alfano third. Lehman junior pitcher Jarret Oehler (Bronx, N.Y.) would force the next two batters to groundout as he escaped the inning to keep the game knotted at 1-1.
In the bottom of the ninth, Napolitano and Attardi both drew walks to set up first and second with only one out, but Lightning junior relief pitcher Charlie Hernandez (Yonkers, N.Y.) registered a strikeout and groundout to send the game into the 10th.
In the 11th, Rice led off the bottom of the inning with a single and Napolitano followed with a walk. After junior first baseman Morgan McCarthy (Oceanside, N.Y.) reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt to load the bases, Perez hit a single to left field to drive home Rice and give the Rams the 2-1 walk-off win.
Rice finished the game 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored, while Napolitano was 1-for-2 with three walks. Leach and Alfano were both 1-for-3 with a walk. Rams' junior Vincent Worgul (Merrick, N.Y.) (1-0) earned the victory after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.
Garcia tallied one hit, a walk and one run scored and Vargas was 1-for-4 with a double and a walk for Lehman. Oehler did not get a decision but recorded 11 strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched in the loss.
The Rams next will travel to the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, MCU Park, to play non-conference opponent New York University on Monday, March 10th at 4:00 p.m.
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