The Broncos baseball team picked up a much-needed victory on Friday afternoon, defeating the Lions of Nassau Community College by a score of 8-7. The contest, which took place at Ohio Field in the Bronx, was called by the umpires and finalized after seven innings of play due to darkness. With the victory, the Broncos improved to 2-3 on the 2019 campaign, while the Lions continued to struggle, falling to 2-8.

With the game tied 1-1 after an inning and a half of play, the Broncos dented home plate four times in the bottom of the second. Those four aforementioned runs came courtesy of an RBI single by Hector Camacho, a two-RBI single by Marcos Ayala, and an RBI infield single by Neudy Salvador. After two innings of play, Bronx held a commanding 5-1 lead.

The Broncos would tack on a sixth run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Michael Mateo would drive in a run with a single to right field. That gave Bronx a 6-1 edge. Nassau, though, refused to go down quietly.

The Lions would storm back in this one, scoring three unanswered runs to slice the Broncos' advantage to two runs. Nassau plated a pair in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by John Capozzoli, and a run-scoring fielder's choice hit into by Mike Sokol. Later, in the top of the sixth, Tucker Hahn would hit a massive homerun down the left field line. After five and a half frames, Bronx was clinging to a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Michael Mateo would launch a ball well over the right field fence to give the Broncos a 7-4 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Lions would score three times to knot the game at seven runs apiece. Nassau's three-run frame was highlighted and capped by a two-RBI single by Jordan Miller that tied the game. The Lions were unable to push across a go-ahead run, and the game headed into the bottom of the seventh.

The Broncos would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out, and, following a pop out by Mateo, Justin Nunez would drive in what turned out to be the winning run with an infield RBI single. At that juncture, Bronx led 8-7. Following the conclusion of the bottom of the seventh, with the Broncos ahead by that same 8-7 score, the umpires would call the game due to darkness, preserving the safety of the student-athletes and essentially sending the Broncos to their second victory of the 2019 slate.

Victor Pena started and turned in his best performance of the season, hurling 4.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while walking a batter and striking out two. Esteban De Los Santos, despite turning in his roughest outing of the season, picked up the victory in relief, tossing 2.2 innings and allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits while issuing four walks and whiffing four.

Joe Welna started and struggled for Nassau, as he pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) while allowing four hits and issuing two free passes. Zach Lelonek hurled 4.2 innings of relief, taking the loss by allowing three earned runs, seven hits, and four walks. He also struck out three.

Offensively for the Broncos, Mateo led the way for Bronx, recording a homerun and a single while driving in a pair of runs. Hector Camacho and Neudy Salvador both recorded two singles and two stolen bases apiece, while both of them each scored a run and drove in one run, as well. Nunez, who recorded the game-winning singled, picked up two hits on the day while walking, scoring a run, and picking up an RBI.

Despite the loss for Nassau, the Lions were led by Hahn, as he homered. John Capozzoli recorded a pair of singles while scoring once and driving in a run, and Michael Iacobellis and Mike Simmons each recorded a double. Iacobellis dented home plate twice and drove in a run, and Simmons scored once.

The Broncos and Lions will play a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon at Eisenhower Park (Field A) in Westbury, NY. Start-times are scheduled for 2:00pm and 5:30pm.