BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Senior Thomas Airey (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) launched his first collegiate home run as the St. Joseph's University Brooklyn baseball team cut a double-digit deficit in half, but dropped a 16-11 non-conference decision to Baruch College on Thursday afternoon at Kingborough Community College.

How it Happened

The Bearcats (10-7) scored first with a five-run second powered by a Joseph Cocozza inside-the-park grand slam. The Bears (4-22) got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a Doug Paider (Glendale, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) two-out infield single and threatened for more, but stranded the bases loaded.

The visitors padded their lead with a pair in the third and another five-run frame in the fourth for a 12-1 advantage. Airey got the Bears back on the board in the bottom of the fourth after putting one over the left field fence also scoring Alex Goldberg (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) who led off with a walk. Goldberg doubled in the fifth and Airey delivered him again to trim the deficit to 12-4.

Baruch scored a pair in the sixth, before St. Joseph's assembled a five-run inning of their own in the seventh. Kevin Reyes (Bronx, N.Y./AECI) opened the scoring belting a RBI-triple and Justin Biordi (Howard Beach, N.Y./Scholars' Academy) followed two batters later with a two-out single to drive home Reyes. A Chris Leary (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) two-run double kept the inning alive and he trotted home on a passed ball to trim the deficit to 14-9.

After a scoreless eighth, the squads traded a pair of runs in the ninth. Leary delivering another run and a Bearcat miscue allowed another run to score. The Bears had two runners in scoring position and they threatened to bring the tying run to the on-deck circle but the Bearcats escaped the jam with a flyout.

For the Bears

• Airey finished 2-for-4 with a career-high three RBI, a home run, double, and stolen base.
• Leary also drove in three runs, finishing 2-for-5 with a double and a walk.
• Reyes rounded out three multi-hit efforts with a 2-for-4 day, collecting a RBI, run, and triple.
• Goldberg scored three times, finishing 1-for-3, with a double and two walks.

Next Up

The Bears resume Skyline Conference play and host Farmingdale State College on Saturday, April 23. Game one at Kingsborough Community College is scheduled for noon. Spectators are not permitted but live stats and video will be available at sjcbears.com/live.