STATEN ISLAND, NY - The CCNY baseball program opened CUNY Athletic Conference play on Friday, claiming the opener of this weekend's three-game series against the College of Staten Island College, 5-1.

Senior right-handed pitcher Cal Romano led the Beavers with a solid pitching effort, improving to 4-1 this season. Romano threw a complete nine innings, striking out three while giving up one earned run. 

After two scoreless innings, the Beavers got on top with three runs in the top of the third. With one out, Freshman Ethan Angress scored on an RBI single up the middle from sophomore Stephen Peters. After sophomore Michael Espinal reached first on an error by the third basemen, Peters and classmate Cooper York scored unearned runs to help the Beavers to a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth, CCNY produced two more runs. Angress started off the frame reaching first on an error and moved to second on a sac bunt by York. Peters drove in Angrees on an RBI base hit to right field. Espinal would later single home Peters for the teams the fifth score of the afternoon.

In the bottom of the seventh, Staten Island eliminated CCNY chances of a shutout, scoring one run on RBI single to right field by Nick Falcone. 

Peters finished the game with two hits, two runs, and two RBI. Senior Rob Mandich and freshman Josh Moreno each had two hits in the game, while  Angress tallied two runs.

CCNY and Staten Island return to the diamond tomorrow at Baseball Haven in Yaphank, NY, as the Beavers host the Dolphins for a noon doubleheader to conclude the series.