PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The City College of New York baseball team swept a non-conference doubleheader against Valley Forge on Wednesday afternoon at UVF Ballpark, taking Game 1 by a score of 9–2 before holding on for a 10–9 victory in Game 2.
Game 1 – CCNY 9, Valley Forge 2
CCNY jumped out early and never looked back behind a strong outing from sophomore right-handed pitcher
Samuel Puttock and a big day at the plate from freshman
Tyler Persampire.
The Beavers struck first in the opening inning when Persampire delivered an RBI single to score sophomore
Demetri Zirogiannis, before senior
Erik Rank added a sacrifice fly to make it 2–0. CCNY extended the lead in the second as Persampire came through again, ripping a two-run double to plate sophomore
Jason Roser and freshman
James Anderson.
Valley Forge got on the board in the second inning, but the Beavers continued to apply pressure. In the fifth, CCNY added three more runs thanks to a balk, a fielder's choice RBI from Anderson, and a wild pitch that allowed senior
Rich Cirigliano to score.
CCNY capped the scoring in the seventh inning with sacrifice RBIs from Zirogiannis and sophmore
Gerard Molinaro to secure the 9–2 win.
Persampire led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, while Molinaro added two hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Puttock (1-0) earned his first win of the season, tossing six innings while striking out seven, allowing just two runs. Graduate student
Noel Vasquez closed the door with a scoreless seventh inning.
Game 2 – CCNY 10, Valley Forge 9
Game two turned into a back-and-forth battle, but the Beavers held off a late push from Valley Forge to complete the sweep.
CCNY wasted little time jumping ahead, scoring five runs in the first inning. Senior
Erik Rank opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly before freshman
James Anderson drove in a run with a single. Freshman
Frank Cundari delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-run double to give CCNY a 5–0 lead.
Valley Forge chipped away and eventually surged ahead with a six-run fourth inning to take an 8–5 lead.
The Beavers answered immediately in the fifth inning, rallying for five runs to reclaim the lead. Junior
Jake Brenner brought home a run with a sacrifice, Cundari followed with an RBI single, and sophomore
Jason Roser tied the game with an RBI double. Later in the inning, Zirogiannis drove in a run on a fielder's choice before Roser capped the rally with a steal of home to put CCNY ahead 10–8.
Valley Forge added one run in the bottom of the fifth, but the CCNY bullpen held firm the rest of the way.
Cundari paced the Beavers offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Anderson had a perfect 3-for-3 performance with two runs scored and an RBI.
Out of the bullpen, Vasquez earned the win, while
Colton Bausenwein and Rank helped secure the final outs to preserve the victory.
Next, the Beavers return to CUNYAC play, hosting Lehman College on Friday, April 10, at Lasorda Legacy Park in Yaphank, NY. First pitch is set for noon.
