Farmingdale State - 10, Lehman - 9
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team defeated non-conference opponent Lehman College, 10-9, this afternoon in Farmingdale, N.Y. to improve to 16-5 overall. The Lightning fell to 5-16 on the season with the loss.
With two outs and a runner on first base in the bottom of the second inning, Farmingdale State took a 1-0 advantage on an RBI double by sophomore designated hitter Ryan DePalma (Albertson, N.Y.). After senior shortstop Shawn Blasberg (Sound Beach, N.Y.) drew a walk, junior second baseman Tyler Schrimpf (Miller Place, N.Y.) tallied an RBI single up the middle to score DePalma and give FSC a two-run edge. The Rams would add a pair of unearned runs in the inning to take a 4-0 advantage.
Farmingdale State tallied a run in the third after sophomore catcher Michael Amandola (North Babylon, N.Y.) registered a two-out triple to center and scored on a wild pitch.
Trailing 5-0 in the sixth, Lehman used a bases loaded walk followed by an infield single to cut their deficit to 5-2. The Lightning scored two more runs later in the inning on a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly to close within one at 5-4.
With a runner on third base in the bottom of the seventh, Rams' junior center fielder Steven Burke (North Babylon, N.Y.) hit an RBI single to go up 6-4. After stealing second base and reaching third on an error, Burke scored on a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Vincent Rice (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) to extend the Farmingdale State edge to three. The Rams added a run later in the inning on an RBI single by junior first baseman Morgan McCarthy (Oceanside, N.Y.) to take an 8-4 advantage.
FSC led 10-4 heading into the ninth inning and despite giving up five runs, held on for the 10-9 victory.
Farmingdale State senior third baseman Jason Conti (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and one run scored, while both DePalma and Burke had two hits, a double and one run batted in. Amandola tallied a triple and two runs scored and junior Cam Alfano (Yaphank, N.Y.) was 1-for-1 off the bench with two RBI's.
Freshman Thomas Messina (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (W, 1-0) earned his first collegiate victory after throwing two scoreless innings. Junior Jimmy Mattera (West Islip, N.Y.) (Sv, 2) picked up the save after striking out the final batter of the game.
For the Lightning, junior catcher Anthony Riley (Bronx, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and senior shortstop Mark Vargas (Bronx, N.Y.) drove in four runs in the loss.
FSC next hosts Mount Saint Mary College for a Skyline doubleheader on Saturday, April 6th at noon.
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