New York, N.Y.— Marlene Nunez (Bronx, NY / Bronx Leadership) ripped a two out single up the middle to cap a five run deficit in the final two innings as John Jay, down 5-0, defeated New Jersey City University, 6-5 in the first game of a doubleheader. The Bloodhounds lost the second game, losing 8-2 as John Jay is now 3-1 on the season.
In the first game, the visiting Gothic Knights spotted the host Bloodhounds a five run lead. NJCU got a pair of runs in the first inning, and got a run in the third, fifth and sixth to take a five run advantage.
The Bloodhounds, meanwhile, were a bit slow to get on track. NJCU starting pitcher Andrea Delucrezia coasted along through the early stages of the contest, no hitting the Bloodhounds through the first 4 1/3 innings.
Christina Perez (Brooklyn, NY / James Madison) got John Jay in the hit column with a one out single in the fifth to set the stage for what was to come.
In the bottom half of the sixth the Bloodhounds got four runs on four hits and got to within one run of the lead. Starting pitcher Angela Lam (Brooklyn, NY / Newtown) helped her cause by ripping a single to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Alyce Miraglia (Lindenwood, NY / Stella Maris) that moved her into scoring position, she came around to score on an RBI single by Danielle Bonici (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter’s Girls) for John Jay’s first run of the game.
Marina Gomez (Bronx, NY / DeWitt Clinton) reached on a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning. But with two outs the Bloodhounds mounted their rally. Nunez, who was 2-for-4 in game one, ripped a double in the sixth to score Gomez. Moments later Jasmine Miranda (Passaic, NJ / Passaic) recorded a single to drive in Nunez.
John Jay then was granted another run in the frame as Nina Chao (Woodside, NY / Bryant) reached on an error by the NJCU first baseman which allowed Miranda to score from third after getting there on a wild pitch.
NJCU went quietly in the top of the seventh, as the Bloodhounds came to the plate down by only one run. The first two batters were retired in order before John Jay mounted a two out rally to ice the game.
Miraglia and Bonici recorded back to back walks as the tying run and winning run were on base.
Gomez then came to the plate and ripped an RBI single to score Miraglia to tie the contest. Nunez then recorded her second hit in as many at bats to win the game, a seeing eye single just out of the reach of the Gothic Knight second baseman to drive in Bonici for the victory.
John Jay got six runs on seven hits, all of which came in the final 2 2/3 innings.
Meanwhile, Lam recorded her second win of the season. She went seven full and allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and improved to 2-0 on the season.
In the second game, NJCU scored three runs in the top of the first and never trailed en route to an 8-2 win to give John Jay its first loss of the season.
The Bloodhounds got a run in the first and a run in the third. John Jay got five hits in the five inning contest, including two each from Miraglia (2-for-3) and Nunez (2-for-3 with two RBI).
Nunez’s singles in the first inning scored Miraglia, while her shot in the third drove home Bonici.
Chao went 5.0 innings and allowed eight runs (six earned) on six hits and struck out three.
John Jay returns to action on Tue. Mar. 25 at Montclair State at 3 p.m.
