USMMA Slugs Its Way To A Win

KINGS POINT, N.Y. - The United States Merchant Marine Academy baseball team defeated Lehman College, 16-14 on Thursday afternoon in Kings Point, NY. Sophomore shortstop Jared Fassnacht led the Mariners at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Sophomore designated hitter Mike Bybee went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and one run scored. Senior Captain Robert Tenenholz when 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.

The Mariners improves their record to 9-17 overall while Lehman falls to 10-8 overall.

In the top of the first, the Mariners kept Lehman off the score board when they threw a man out at the plate. Darin Coleman ran down a single to left center. He threw it to the cut off Fassnacht, who fired it home to nail the runner trying to score.

USMMA got on the board first in the bottom of the first with two runs. Coleman led off the inning with a single a diving first baseman. He advanced to second on a balk. Fassnacht singled to left field scoring Coleman and advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder. Bybee drove in Fassnacht on a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Lightning tied the game up in the top of the second. Caraballo doubled down the left field line to plate two runs.

Lehman took a 4-2 lead with two runs in the top of the third. Arvelo hit a bases loaded double down the left field line that rolled to the corner of the fence to knock in both runs.

The Mariners regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs. Doug Carter got the inning started with a one out single to left field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tenenholz hit a two out single up the middle to score Carter. Jeff Schwind singled to center field moving Tenenholz to third and Schwind moved to second on the throw. Coleman then walked and Tenenholz scored on the ball four wild pitch. Coleman stole second to put runners on second and third. Schwind came into score on a wild pitch.

USMMA added eight more runs in the bottom of the fifth to give them a 13-4 lead. Bybee hit a one out single through the right side. He scored on a single up the middle by Carter. Tenenholz walked with the bases loaded to bring in the second run. Schwind reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Carter. Fassnacht walked with the bases loaded to bring in another run. Brad Rakoce was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, plating the fifth run. Bybee hit in two more runs with his second single up the inning. Brandon Scott singled off the pitcher glove to bring in the eight run of the inning.

Lehman answered with four runs in the top of the sixth. The first run came in on a single up the middle by Hernandez. Another run came in on a single to center field by Reyes. Alicea hit a sacrifice fly to left field to plate the third run. Rosario knocked in the last run on a ground out to third base.

USMMA score one run in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI ground out to second by Coleman.

The Lightning added one run in the top of the seventh on a RBI single up the middle by Cordero.

The Mariners knocked in another run in the bottom of the seventh, when E. Patrick Boyle hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Lehman chipped away at the Mariners lead with one run in the top of the eighth. Garcia singled to left field to plate Reyes.

USMMA answered with one run in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by Fassnacht.

The Lightning scored four runs in the top of the ninth but their rally fell short. Hernandez hit a 3-2 to pitch to center field plating the first run. Reyes doubled to right center to bring in two more runs. Lehman’s last run came in on a RBI ground out to shortstop by Alicea.

Eric Anderson came in with one out in the top of the ninth. He was able to get the last to outs to record his first save of the season and give the Mariners a 16-14 win. With the victory USMMA has now won four straight games.

The Mariners return to action on Saturday, April 19th, when they will travel to Susquehanna University for a three game series. Game one is slated for 1:00 p.m.