No. 1 Beavers, No. 3 Bearcats Split Opening Day of CUNYAC Baseball Championship

THROGGS NECK, N.Y. - No. 1 CCNY and No. 3 Baruch split the first two games of the 2025 CUNYAC Baseball Championship series at Reinhart Baseball Field on the campus of SUNY Maritime Saturday afternoon. The Beavers (13-13) posted a 5-3 win in game 1, before the Bearcats (13-19) forced Sunday's Game 3 with a 9-4 win in the nightcap.

The two teams will meet on Sunday, May 11 in Game 3 at Reinhart Baseball Field at 2 pm to determine the 2025 CUNYAC champion.

No. 1 CCNY 5, No. 3 Baruch 3 | Box Score

Michael Savino broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run double as CCNY took a 1-0 series lead. Savino's double scored Jason Roser and Gerard Molinaro.

Baruch staked itself to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as an RBI single by Peter Morino brought in Roy Longarzo. Morino later scored on a passed ball. CCNY answered with a two-run home run by Moliaro in the second, and a Demetri Zirogiannis double that plated Savino in the third put the Beavers in front.

The Bearcats grabbed a run and tied the game 3-3 in the top half of the seventh as Longarzo's double plated Matthew Rappa.

Erik Rank tossed eight innings to earn the win for City College, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out five. Brandon Paider worked a 1-2-3 ninth to get the save. Andrew Lapointe went 6.2 innings for Baruch and surrendered five runs, all earned, and allowed seven hits while fanning five.

Molinaro, Savino and Kevin Budzinski each had two hits to pace CCNY, while Joseph Cocozza had two of Baruch's five hits in the opener.

Baruch 9, CCNY 4 | Box Score

Longarzo broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run home run to right to put the Bearcats up 3-0. Baruch would tack on three more in the sixth, one in the seventh and two in the eighth to build a 9-0 lead. Cocozza hit a solo shot in the seventh.

CCNY scored all four of its runs in the ninth on a Zirogiannis two-run double and a Jake Brenner two run home run to left.

Bearcat starter Troy Vigilis went the first six innings and allowed four hits and no runs while striking out six to earn the victory. Joseph Bello worked the final three innings in relief after catching for the first six innings. Paider started and took the loss for CCNY, allowing seven hits and six runs.

Rappa finished with three hits for Baruch in the nightcap, with Andrew DeRose adding two. Brenner and Alex Montanile each had two hits for the Beavers.

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