By: By Michael L. Damon
Game 1
Game 2
Staten Island, N.Y. – The John Jay softball program sent an electrifying message to the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) that they are a force to be reckoned with as the Bloodhounds defeated the College of Staten Island (CSI) in an unbelievable doubleheader sweep. John Jay defeated CSI 8-7 with a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the eighth inning in game one and came from behind in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score 9-5 to win 10-9 in game two.
With the wins, John Jay improves to 7-11 (6-1 CUNYAC).
In the first game, the Bloodhounds, who served as the home team despite playing at the CSI facility, and Dolphins went toe to toe in the early stages. John Jay out hit CSI 10-9 in the opener and had two hits each from
Christina Perez (Brooklyn, NY, James Madison)(2-for-3) and
Angela Lam (Brooklyn, NY, Newtown) (2-for-4).
CSI scored first with a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead. The Bloodhounds countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning as
Krystal Class (Brooklyn, NY, New Utrecht) ripped a single, scoring Lam to make the score 2-1.
But the Dolphins stayed one step ahead during the middle innings with a run in the fourth and the fifth to go ahead 4-1.
John Jay countered and put up a four runs in the sixth off of four hits, one walk, one CSI error and one batter hit by a pitch to take a 5-4 lead.
But the lead was short lived as CSI came back with three runs to go up 7-5 in the top of the seventh.
The Bloodhounds came back to tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Danielle Bonici (Staten Island, NY, St. Peter's Girls) ripped a one out single to propel a one-out rally.
Nina Chao (Woodside, NY, W.C. Bryant), representing the tying run, reached on an error leaving runners on first and second and then a passed ball by the Dolphins hurler left John Jay with two runners in scoring position. A walk by Perez loaded the bases before
Kim Bifulco (Staten Island, NY, St. John Villa) reached on a fielder's choice to force home the first run. A fielding miscue by CSI scored another run and suddenly the game was tied.
CSI failed to score in the eighth, giving John Jay the chance to win. With international rules in effect, Marlene Nunez, who made the last out of the previous inning, was placed at second. She scored from third with two outs on suicide squeeze by Class to end the game.
Lam earned the win going eight innings while allowing seven runs (three earned) on nine hits and two strikeouts.
In the second game, CSI put up three runs in the top of the first off of Chao, the game two starter.
John Jay came back in the bottom of the second with four runs to take a 4-3 lead. Nunez, who was 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, laced a triple to score pinch runner
Olivia Marquez (Paso Robles, CA, Templeton)and
Arlene Pena (Bronx, NY, Lehman) who was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI in game two.
But the Dolphins got two runs in the third to retake the lead and four in the fifth to go up 9-4.
The Bloodhounds scored a run in the bottom of the sixth when Bonici ripped a two-out single to score Class, who hit a two-out double to keep the inning alive, making the score 9-5.
The Bloodhounds were still down five as they came to bat in the bottom of the seventh. John Jay's first three runners reached base to get the rally started. The third batter, Pena, singled to right to drive in pinch runner
Briggitte Martinez (New York, NY, Health Professions), a runner for Perez who walked to start the inning. Two more Bloodhounds crossed home plate moments later when leadoff batter
Nelly Vega (Bronx, NY, In-Tech Academy) ripped a single to score pinch runner
Sarah Balgobin (South Ozone Park, NY, John Adams) and Nunez. An error by CSI on the play allowed Vega to move to third. Class then delivered the game winning single as Vega crossed home to complete the sweep.
Bifulco picked up the win in relief after going three innings and allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits. At the plate, the Staten Island native went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Starter Chao went four innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits.
John Jay returns to action on Monday, April 13 for a doubleheader at the College of New Rochelle at 4 p.m.
