Bronx, N.Y.— Marina Gomez (Bronx, NY/ DeWitt Clinton) ripped a two out single into right centerfield to drive home Pamela Peralta (Bronx, NY/ John F Kennedy) to cap off a four run seventh inning as the John Jay softball team rallied back from a three run deficit in the last inning to defeat Lehman College 5-4. The win came in the City University of New York Athletic Conference(CUNYAC) single elimination play-in game at Lehman’s South Field on Thursday afternoon. And with the win the Bloodhounds advance to the double elimination tournament at the College of Staten Island on Friday.
“It was a great win, and it shows how gritty this team is, they never gave up on themselves or the game,” said John Jay head coach Pat Malia. “We’re looking forward to going to Staten Island and putting forth our best effort and getting some more wins.”
The Bloodhounds drew first blood in the contest with a run in the top half of the first inning on an RBI double by Erica Esposito (Dix Hills, NY/ Half Hollow Hills) to drive in Danielle Bonici (Staten Island, NY/ St. Peter’s Girls), who led off the game with a single.
John Jay would carry that lead into the third inning when the Lightning finally “struck.” Lehman got four across the plate in the bottom of the third frame to take a 4-1 lead that would stick all the way into the seventh. The big hit for the Lightning came off the bat of Miguelina Reyes (Bronx, NY/ Santiago Guzman D.R) who crushed a three run homer to right, breaking a 1-1 tie.
Lehman’s lead would stand until the seventh. John Jay did have an opportunity in the top of the fourth but left the bases loaded.
From there Lehman’s starting pitcher Olga Torres (Bronx, NY/ St. Catherine’s Academy) retired the Bloodhounds in order in the fifth and sixth innings.
But in the seventh the Bloodhounds got off and running.
Jennifer Marano (Freeport, NY/ Our Lady of Mercy) led the inning off with a walk. Arlene Pena (Bronx, NY/ Lehman HS) came in to pinch run, and with one out stole second to put herself in scoring position. Next Dayna Navatta (Queens, NY/ Bayside) ripped a single up the middle, moving Pena to third.
On the next play the Bloodhounds would get two runs back as Bonici ripped a base hit to center and advanced to third after a throwing error by Lehman while Pena and Navatta scored. Peralta then delivered a hit to drive in Bonici to tie the game. She then stole second, and with two outs came around to score the eventual winning run on Gomez’s single as the crowd at Lehman, consisting mostly of John Jay fans erupted in exuberance.
Esposito, who went the distance retired Lehman 1-2-3 in the seventh to preserve the win. She earned the win after allowing four runs on six hits, striking out seven, and walking none.
Bonici led the offense for the Bloodhounds with a 3-for-4 performance with two runs and an RBI.
John Jay will be in action again on Friday at 12 p.m. against the College of Staten Island in the conference tournament. If the Bloodhounds win they will advance to Saturday’s winner's bracket game at 12 p.m. to face the winner between No. 2 Hunter College and No. 3 Baruch College. If John Jay loses on Friday they will play in the loser’s bracket game later the same day at 4 p.m.
