Baruch’s baseball team traveled for two away games at Lehman College on May 1. The double-header marked games five and six of the team’s six-game winning streak, resulting in a regular CUNYAC season record of 8-4.
The Bearcats won by a landslide against the Lehman College Lightning in the first game, leading by 18 points, the final score standing at 20-2. Baruch’s Joseph Bello, Joseph Cocozza and Kenneth Pastrana finished the game with three hits each, pushing Baruch ahead by 16 total hits.
Baruch’s Joseph Bello, Joseph Cocozza and Kenneth Pastrana finished the game with three hits each, contributing to the 16 total hits that pushed Baruch ahead.
Baruch Athletics posted on X to congratulate Cocozza for reaching 100 RBI after these games, a new career milestone. Other Bearcats also performed exceptionally well in the first game.
Notably, first-year student Nicholas Morabito played strong in game one, batting 2-3 with a double and four RBI.
The Bearcats kept their momentum in full swing with nine runs in the fourth inning and seven runs in the following fifth.
Troy Vigilis, who joined the team this season, secured the win. Vigilis now stands with a perfect 3-0 record for the season. Lehman put up a fight in Game 2, keeping it close throughout the game.
However, the Bearcats still managed to pull ahead for a second victory, with a final score of 8-6. Matthew Rappa stood out, batting three-for-three with two doubles, two RBI and one stolen base.
In their recap of the game, Baruch’s Athletics also notes Roy Longarzo’s performance in game two. Longarzo batted three-for-four, with three RBI, one triple, one run and two stolen bases. John Kim earned the win in game two, situating him at 4-2 for the season.
More information on the statistics for Baruch’s players can be found on the Baruch Athletics website.
With the two victories, Baruch now waits for the championship tournament schedule to be announced.
Currently, Baruch, John Jay and City College all stand with an 8-4 record for the regular season, placing them in a three-way tie for first.
Baruch outplayed CCNY at Maritime College, 14-1, in the third game of the Best of Three Championship Series on May 11.
Cocozza finished his final season with the Bearcats four for five, with a single, double, triple and homer.
It was nearing the end of the game when Cocozza hit an RBI double, Peter Marino hit an RBI triple and Nicholas Benedetto hit an RBI single, setting up the 14-10 score as Bello pitched a fast ninth inning.
Notably, Bello also made team history with his fourth save of the season. The save marked the sixth of his career, distinguishing Bello as the team’s all-time save leader. Roy Longarzo was named Championship MVP in the course of the tournament’s four games, he batted eight-for-18 with 10 RBI, seven runs, four doubles and two home runs.
The victory commemorates the sixth CUNYAC Championship won by the Bearcats, the last time being back in 2022.
