Brooklyn, NY---Despite showing grit throughout the afternoon, the Brooklyn College softball team dropped both games of their CUNYAC Opener to the defending conference champs, John Jay, on Wednesday at BC Field. Brooklyn dropped a tight 4-2 decision in Game 1 before rallying late in Game 2, but eventually falling to the Bloodhounds, 10-4. Brooklyn moves to 4-16 overall with the pair of losses while John Jay improves to 8-14. Next Up: Brooklyn remains home on Monday, 4/6, for a non-conference doubleheader against SUNY Purchase with the twin bill beginning at 4pm.
Game 1 Recap | Brooklyn- 2, John Jay- 4
John Jay struck first in the top of the third inning, capitalizing on a pair of hits to plate two runs. The Bloodhounds added another in the fifth and one more in the seventh to build a 4-0 advantage.
Brooklyn responded in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking advantage of defensive miscues. After back-to-back walks by Katelyn Young and Olivia Gonzalez to put runners on, both came around to score on an error, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Despite the momentum shift, the Bulldogs were unable to complete the comeback. John Jay added an insurance run in the seventh, and Brooklyn left multiple runners on base late, including a promising opportunity in the sixth inning.
Young led the Bulldogs offensively with a 2-for-2 performance and a walk, while Addy Cook and Jazlyn Roberts each added a hit. Brooklyn totaled five hits on the day but stranded 10 runners.
In the circle, Kureshma Dhanraj went the distance, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out one.
John Jay's Kendal Bryant paced all hitters, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Samantha Santana drove in two runs. Lindsay Ogden earned the complete-game victory, striking out eight and allowing just two unearned runs.
Game 2 Recap | Brooklyn- 4, John Jay- 10
John Jay wasted no time setting the tone, plating three runs in the top of the first inning behind timely hitting and aggressive baserunning. The visitors added two more in the second to take an early 5-0 lead.
The Bloodhounds continued to apply pressure in the fourth, capitalizing on stolen bases and clutch hits to extend their advantage to 7-0. A decisive three-run fifth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from Kiki Iglesias, pushed the lead to 10-0.
Brooklyn responded in the bottom of the fifth with its best offensive inning of the afternoon. After drawing a leadoff walk, the Bulldogs strung together four consecutive scoring plays. RBI hits from Roberts, Young, and Julia Corcoran, along with a sacrifice fly by Victoria Elderbaum, cut the deficit to 10-4.
The Bulldogs tallied 10 hits in the contest, led by a standout performance from Cook, who went 3-for-4 at the plate. Young added two hits and an RBI, while Roberts contributed a double and drove in a run. Corcoran also recorded an RBI single in the rally inning.
In the circle, Jessica Bowe was charged with the loss after allowing 10 runs over four innings of work. Dhanraj provided a strong relief effort, tossing three scoreless innings and striking out two while limiting John Jay to no hits.
For John Jay, Kelly Fajardo and Natalie Graham each recorded two hits and combined for three RBIs at the top of the lineup. Iglesias drove in a game-high three runs, while Adrianna Barragan scored twice and added two hits.
