Kings Point, NY - The City College of New York baseball team's postseason run came to an end on Saturday night as the Beavers fell to Baruch, 13-4, in the decisive game of the 2026 CUNYAC Championship Series at Bartoszek Field.
CCNY struck first in the opening inning when sophomore
Gerard Molinaro ripped an RBI single to right field, scoring senior
John Spallin to give the Beavers an early 1-0 advantage. Baruch answered immediately with a three-run bottom of the first before CCNY cut the deficit to 3-2 in the second inning on another RBI single from Molinaro, this time plating sophomore
Jason Roser.
Baruch continued to apply pressure offensively, adding a run in the second and another in the fourth to extend its lead to 5-2. The Bearcats then broke the game open in the sixth inning. Kenneth Pastrana delivered a two-run single before Matthew Rappa launched a three-run homer to left field, pushing the advantage to 9-2.
The Bearcats added three more runs in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run triple from Sam Steinman, taking a commanding 12-2 lead into the late innings.
CCNY mounted one final rally in the ninth inning as Roser lined a two-run double to right field, scoring junior
Jake Brenner and freshman
Frank Cundari, but the comeback effort was halted as Baruch secured the championship victory.
Molinaro led the Beavers offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI. Roser added a hit and two RBI, while
Tyler Persampire,
Rich Cirigliano,
Frank Cundari, and
Jake Brenner each collected hits.
Graduate right-handed pitcher
Noel Vasquez took the loss after striking out four over three innings of work. Freshmen
Paul Cucuzzo and
Tristan Bausenwein combined for five innings in relief.
Andrew Lapointe earned the complete-game victory for Baruch, striking out nine across 8.1 innings.
CCNY concludes the 2026 campaign with an 18-20 overall record and made its fifth straight appearance in the CUNYAC Championship Series.
