Yeshiva University Baseball Breaks 100-Game Losing Streak
The Yeshiva University Maccabees broke a 100-game losing streak after defeating the Lehman College Lightning with a score of 9-5 on April 8, their first win since February 2022. The victory came during the second match of a double header which previously saw the Macs fall to the Lightning 7-6.
Prior to the game, the Macs and Lightning had a losing streak of 99 and 42 games respectively. The combined streak of 141 games was one of the longest in NCAA history. The Macs entered the day with a program record of 0-17 against Lehman.The matchup garnered international attention after news of the losing streak went viral on social media.
Online baseball personality Dan Sarmiento, also known as DSarm, was one of the social media influencers promoting the game. Sarmiento, whose videos on the matchup received hundreds of thousands of views, flew from Los Angeles to watch live. “I think it’s a very engaging moment,” he told The Commentator. “It kind of makes you pick a side. It’s like, do you want to keep the streak going or do you want it to end?”
YU started by scoring two runs in the first inning and found themselves in command of a 5-1 lead heading into the third. Lehman responded by bringing in three runs of their own, making it a 5-4 game. The two teams went back and forth over the next few innings with Lehman tying the score at 6-6 in the seventh. Lehman would ultimately win the first game with a score of 7-6, recording their first victory since May 2023 and extending the Macs losing streak to 100 games.
After a 30 minute break the second game began. The Macs scored three runs in the first inning and Lehman followed suit with two runs in the third. YU quickly brought in four more runs to extend their lead by five. Despite persistent efforts by Lehman to narrow the gap, the Macs maintained their advantage throughout the match. The final score was 9-5 for YU.
With the increased publicity, Coach Jeremy Renna told The Commentator in an interview that the priority for him and his coaching staff was on “getting the guys relaxed.”
“Hakadosh Baruch Hu put us here for a reason,” Renna said. “We don’t know why, but he put us in this spot to have this spotlight. So just enjoy it and have fun and make a kiddush Hashem.” According to Renna, the players didn’t focus on the longevity of the streak, despite media attention. For them, the matchup was just “an opportunity to go get a win.”
“We were super disappointed after the first loss,” Mendy Kanofsky (SSSB ‘25), the team’s captain, explained to The Commentator. However, morale improved after a speech from Renna. “Within a matter of minutes our mentality turned around and we flipped,” Kanofsky added “We knew we could win.”
“It was one of the most exciting and thrilling action packed games I’ve ever watched in my entire life,” Reuben Azose (SSSB ‘25), a student who was at the game, told The Commentator. “We finally got to witness a piece of YU history.”
“After 100 tough losses, I couldn’t be prouder to finally celebrate a win with our incredible baseball team. This victory is a testament to our grit, heart, and unshakable belief in one another. Here’s to perseverance, passion, and the sweetest win we’ve ever earned!” Gabriel Lallouz (SSSB ‘27), an outfielder for the team, said in a statement to The Commentator.
The Macs next baseball game this season will be against the Maritime College Privateers on April 25.
Photo Caption: The Macs playing Lehman College at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Photo Credit: David Deutsch / The Commentator
