The previously 0-20 Lions have been catching some flack lately—most notably from MLB.com staff writer and Emerson alumnus Michael Clair, who humorously mentioned the Lions’ then-35 game losing streak in an article on a Division II baseball game that ended in a 40-21 score.

That losing streak, which reached 36 games and spanned 389 days, ended with a 5-3 victory over Coast Guard Academy on April 15.

Take that, Clair.

“It’s a huge thing for our team,” said senior captain Julian Rifkind, who coached first base the entire game in the absence of two of the three Emerson coaches. “We struggled early in the season. Now we’re hyped, and we’re looking for a big second half to end the year.”

The undermanned Lions traveled to Connecticut with only 11 players and got a solid performance from every one of them, sans Rifkind, the first base coach. The team was also without one of its best hitters and all-around players, senior captain Zach Dean, who had to attend class.

Steve Cameron, normally a catcher and third basemen, pitched the first five innings, allowing four hits and no runs and ultimately earning the victory. Sophomore Clint Fontanella, an outfielder, pitched the last four innings, allowing two earned runs and three overall.

“[Catcher] Pablo Feldman caught a great game for me,” said Cameron, a visual and media arts major. “Everyone played great defense and everyone hit well. It feels incredible to get a win. Now we want to keep the train rolling.”

Rifkind, now 1-0 as a player-coach, joked that he is considering a permanent change.

“My initiation as a head coach went pretty well; I’m undefeated,” said the journalism major, laughing. “I might hang up the cleats for some sneakers and join the other coaches for the rest of the year.”

The Lions’ next opponent will be Babson College on Friday, April 17.