Brooklyn, NY----Advancing to the CUNYAC Championship Tournament final round for the first time in program history, the Brooklyn College softball team came up short on Friday, falling to #2 John Jay, 9-1 (5 innings). Brooklyn advanced to the championship round after defeating #4 Hunter, 7-4, in the first game of the day. The #3 seeded Bulldogs end the season with a 17-25 overall record. Winning their fourth straight CUNYAC title, John Jay, earned an automic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament while improving to 18-20 on the season.
Game 1 Recap | Brooklyn- 7, Hunter- 4
Brooklyn answered an early Hunter rally and used a decisive three-run fourth inning to take control before holding off a late Hawks comeback attempt.
Hunter struck first in the top of the opening inning as Abigail Bidinger delivered an RBI triple to right center before Elizabeth Thompson added a sacrifice fly to put the Hawks ahead, 2-0.
The Bulldogs immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning. Lianna Gonzalez opened the frame with a single and later scored alongside Haylee Burleigh on a two-run single from Katelyn Young to even the score at 2-2.
After both teams traded scoreless innings through the third, Brooklyn broke through in the fourth. Julia Corcoran walked and later scored when Victoria Elderbaum reached on a single and Hunter committed a throwing error. Jazlyn Roberts followed with an RBI single, and another Hawks error allowed Brooklyn to extend the lead to 5-2.
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the fifth inning. Young led off with a single, stole second, and eventually scored on a Corcoran infield single and error. Vida Rodriguez later lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Corcoran and push the lead to 7-2.
Hunter mounted one final push in the sixth inning, scoring twice on RBI hits from Brianna Flores and Bidinger to cut the deficit to 7-4. However, Brooklyn pitcher Kureshma Dhanraj escaped further trouble and retired the Hawks in order in the seventh to seal the championship victory.
Dhanraj tossed a complete game to earn the win. She allowed four runs on 10 hits while walking three and striking out two.
Young led Brooklyn offensively, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two stolen bases. Burleigh added a pair of hits and a stolen base, while Corcoran scored twice and drove in a run. Roberts contributed an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Hunter was paced by Bidinger, who went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while Giordana Bowen added two hits and a double.
Championship Recap | Brooklyn-1, John Jay- 9 (5 Innings)
The Bulldogs threatened early in the opening inning when senior Addy Cook singled to center field, but John Jay pitcher, Lindsay Ogden, escaped the frame with a strikeout to keep the game scoreless. Brooklyn created another scoring chance in the second after Julia Corcoran singled, advanced to third on a passed ball and stolen base, but the Bloodhounds stranded the runner to maintain the deadlock.
Brooklyn broke through first in the top of the third inning. Leadoff batter Lianna Gonzalez was hit by a pitch before Burleigh ripped a triple down the left field line to plate the game's opening run and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
John Jay answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with consecutive RBI singles from Alyssa Cadolino and Natalie Graham to take a 2-1 lead.
The Bloodhounds added an unearned run in the fourth inning before erupting for six runs in the fifth to secure the run-rule victory. John Jay recorded eight hits in the decisive final frame, highlighted by RBI singles from Samantha Santana, Zoe Lowe, Kelly Fajardo, Natalie Polanco, Kendal Bryant, and Cadolino.
Burleigh led Brooklyn offensively, finishing 1-for-3 with a triple and the team's lone RBI. Cook and Corcoran each added hits, while Roberts contributed a single in the loss.
John Jay's offense was paced by Natalie Polanco, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Cadolino finished a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Fajardo and Bryant each collected two hits.
Jessica Bowe was charged with the loss in the circle for Brooklyn. Ogden earned the victory for John Jay after striking out nine and allowing four hits across five innings. She would go on to be named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
