Walsh Lifts Baseball to a 10-8 Victory over Lehman

Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information) 

Bronx, NY| Ryan Walsh's three-hit performance carried the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) baseball team to a 10-8 victory over the Lehman College Lightning at Lehman College South Field on Tuesday afternoon. With the victory, the Golden Eagles win their sixth game in a row to improve their record to 8-2 (2-0 Skyline), as Lehman drops to 2-10 on the year.

After a quiet two innings, James Nakashian drove in Anthony Bonilla to score the game's first run in the top of the third. Lehman responded in the bottom of the third, scoring the tying run on a passed ball. Natanael Toribio would then single to right field to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead.

Joseph Calabrese led off the top of the fourth with a solo homerun to right field, and the momentum would continue for the Golden Eagles with Lynn splitting the outfielder with a double. Ryan Walsh would later drive in Lynn with an RBI double.

In the bottom of the fourth, Juan Arias began the inning with a double to centerfield before Miguel Melendez cleared the bases with a two-run shot over the left field fence giving Lehman a 4-3 lead.

After back-to-back singles by Nakashian and Nick Girardi, Brendan Sullivan walked to load the bases for Calabrese, who would drive in the tying run once more with a sac fly to left field. The Golden Eagles couldn't capitalize with runners on scoring position and exited the fourth tied 4-4.

After an error, SJC found itself with runners on second and third with two outs, and Matthew Prevosti delivered with a two-out single to score both runners to take a 6-4 lead.

The back-and-forth continued for the Golden Eagles with Dennis McAllister leading off the sixth with a single. Burnett would pinch run for him and stole second on the next pitch to bring up Ryan Walsh. Walsh capitalized on the situation with a two-run home run to tie game up at 6-6.  SJC found itself with a bases loaded situation once more as Calabrese plated two runs to take the 8-6 lead.

In the bottom half of the frame, Lehman scored with a double from Carlo Francisco to plate the seventh run.

Girardi came up in the seventh with runners in scoring position and singled to the left fielder, scoring both Anthony Bonilla and Walsh for the 10-7 lead.

The Lightning would strike again in the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot from Arias to bring them within two (10-8).

Matt Leach sealed the 10-8 win for the Golden Eagles tossing 2.1 hitless innings and striking out four batters.

Nick Clemente would receive his second win of the season, tossing 2.2 innings of relief and giving up two runs on four hits, while striking out four. Leach earned his first save of the season.

The Golden Eagles will fly down to Dominican Republic for seven games against the Dominican Republic Summer League teams. Their first game is scheduled for March 18 against the DSL Washington Nationals.