HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – A pair of sixth inning rallies lifted the Centenary University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Lehman College on Friday afternoon in the season opener for both squads. Centenary was playing its first ever games on campus as construction of Our Diamond of Dreams was completed in the fall.

The Cyclones trailed 7-0 in game one and rallied for the 11-7 victory. In game two, the Cyclones jumped out to an early lead, only to see the Lightning come back and tie the game but Centenary tacked on three late runs for the 9-6 win.

"We've been anxiously awaiting this day for years," said head coach Scott Kushner. "The weeks leading up to Opening Day have been amazing with so many well-wishers – including dozens of former players – reaching out to support us. Yesterday, we were fortunate to get a visit from one of the greatest Cyclones ever, Ryan Caparoni ('15), who delivered an emotional pep talk to the team about making the most of their opportunities and to never stop competing."

"The guys obviously took his words to heart – overcoming a nightmarish first inning and a daunting deficit late in game one and then spoiling Lehman's comeback in game two," added Kushner. "There was no quit in us. A very memorable and magical day on the diamond – hopefully the first of many."

Game One Recap:
The Cyclones found themselves in an early hole as Lehman scored four times in the top of the first inning. Robert Kiernan had a two-run double in the inning to highlight the early action.

Lehman added another run in the top of the second and took a 5-0 advantage in the contest.

Kiernan picked up his third RBI of the game in the top of the fourth and later scored a run as Lehman increased its lead to 7-0.

The Cyclones began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth as the first two runners reached via errors. Junior Jonathan Pezzato singled and reached second on error that allowed the home team's first run of the game to score. A wild pitch plated senior Nick Scotto with the second run of the frame. Sophomores Christopher Gass and Brandon Smith tacked on RBI singles and Centenary was within three, 7-4.

After the Cyclones retired Lehman in the top of the sixth, the home team went back to work in the bottom half of that frame. Centenary loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a hit by the pitch. Senior Cole Fratesi then drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run. Fellow senior Jon Fleck then tied the game with a single to center that plated two runners. A pair of runs scored on an error before sophomore Paul Links drove in a run with a sac fly and Pezzato pushed in the 11th run of the game with a bases loaded walk.

Sophomore Anthony Ranaudo used a pair of seventh inning strikeouts to secure the 11-7 comeback win for the Cyclones.

Junior Tom Bordi recorded the first ever win in the history of Our Diamond of Dreams as he tossed two innings of one hit relief work. Alexander Pimentel took the loss for Lehman after giving up five runs without getting an out.

Junior Marty Lucibello III and Pezzato led Centenary with two hits and two runs scored each.

Game Two Recap:
After sophomore Jared Miller retired the Lightning in order in the top of the first, the Cyclones wasted little time getting on the board in the bottom half of that frame. The first four batters reached via singles, including an RBI single from Smith. Links and Scotto each drove in runs after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Cyclones also got an RBI single from junior Nicholas Grifone as they took a 6-0 lead.

Miller baffled the Lehman bats through the first four innings. The Lightning had just three base runners in that stretch.

Lehman got its first hit off Miller in the top of the fifth and plated three runs.

The Lightning continued to battle back and got three runs in the top of the sixth, which tied the game at 6-6. Jeremmy Santos had a two-run double for Lehman in that inning.

Centenary manufactured its second comeback of the day in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Smith laced a triple to left field and came around to score on Links' double. Lehman got the second out of the inning before the Cyclones scored two more runs. Scotto had an RBI double before junior Michael Vallario contributed an RBI single.

Lehman had a pair of runners reach in the top of the seventh, but junior Justin Velez entered the game and got a strikeout to finish it off.

Sophomore Anthony Vassallo picked up the win in relief for the Cyclones as he surrendered one unearned run in 1.2 innings of work. Velez secured the save with his strikeout. Jonathan Rogers took the loss for Lehman after giving up two runs in a third of an inning.

Smith had three hits and two runs scored for the Cyclones in game two while Links added two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs.

The Cyclones are right back to work as they host Eastern in a doubleheader tomorrow at 11 a.m.