Union, NJ - The defending two-time CUNYAC Softball champions, the John Jay softball team, commenced the 2025 season on Tuesday afternoon under first-year head coach Angie Nieves as the Bloodhounds walked off for a 6-5 win over William Paterson in game one before falling in the nightcap, 4-3, in eight innings.
 

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John Jay moves to 1-1 while the Pioneers improve to 2-6.
 
Game 1 | John Jay 6, William Paterson 5
In the opening game of the 2025 season, the Bloodhounds trailed the visiting Pioneers 4-1 after three before John Jay scored in the fourth and staged a four-run bottom of the seventh, capped by the game-winning RBI single off the bat of Sidney Bankston as the Bloodhounds defeated the Pioneers, 6-5.
 
Sophomore Natalie Graham earned her first win as Bloodhound, pitching all seven frames. Bankston, along with Alyssa Cadolino, had two hits and two RBIs. Rylea Sandel and newcomer Oliva Paoli each added an RBI in the win.
Stephanie Ciravolo, who came on for starter Lindsey Acker, pitched six innings before handing the ball to Kylie Anthony, who allowed the game-winning single to Bankston. Brandi Shortway and Zoey Hagan each had two hits for the Pioneers, while Shortway, Hailey Backo, and Samantha Campos each drove in an RBI.
 
William Paterson got on the board first. Lilah Guthy sent a two-out double to center field. Zoey Hagan moved her to third before the two executed a double steal, as Guthy slid under the tag to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
 
The Bloodhounds evened the score in the bottom of the frame. Rodrigues drew a one-out walk before stealing second. Sandel worked a five-pitch walk. Both moved up on a wild pitch.  
 
Newcomer Kendal Bryant also walked to load the bases and ended Acker's outing. Ciravolo came and gave up a first-pitch RBI single to Cadolino.
 
Backo lofted a sacrifice fly to center in the second inning that scored Lauren Hutchinson, and Ciravolo alertly followed up to score. The Pioneers tacked on a run in the third as Campos doubled to right center, bringing in Hagan for a three run advantage.  
 
The score remained that way until the bottom of the fourth. Olivia Paoli drew a seven-pitch walk to open the inning before Cece Fornerin came in to run for her. Bankston, down in the count 1-2, roped a screaming double to left field that cut the deficit in half.  
 
In the top of the sixth, Shortway added to William Paterson's lead with a double to left center, making it 5-2.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Pioneers threatened for more runs, as with the bases loaded, Ciravolo popped up to Gallaspy at third, who then alertly threw home and got Hagan out trying to score.
 
In the home half of the seventh, Gallaspy led off with a single to right before moving up on a steal. Sandel singled up the middle with one out, plating Gallaspy as John Jay trailed 5-3.  Bryant singled up the middle to give the Bloodhounds two runners on.
 
The next batter, Cadolino, uncorked an RBI single to center, scoring Sandel. Paoli tied the game with a double to left center after working the count full.
 
Anthony came on for Ciravolo while coach Nieves elected for a pinch runner in Miranda Perez. With the count at 1-0, Bankston sent a hard-hit single to center as Perez flew around the bases for the game-winning run.
 
Game 2 | John Jay 3, William Paterson 4 (8 innings)
In the nightcap, the Bloodhounds trailed 3-1 after four before Cadolino drove in the tying runs in the bottom of the seventh. A sacrifice fly by WPU's Campos was the difference as John Jay fell by a 4-3 count.
Bryant led the way for the Bloodhounds with three hits. Gallaspy, Cadolino, and Sandel each had two hits.
 
For Sandel, she is just one hit shy of 200 for her career.  Cadolino drove in two RBIs, while Sandel had the other for the Bloodhounds.
 
Lindsay Ogden (0-1) went the full eight innings, giving up all four runs on four hits while walking seven and striking out five.
 
Guthy, Taylor Palmieri, Campos, and Hutchinson each had a hit in the win for the Pioneers. Campos drove in both RBIs for the visitors. Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning. Hutchinson got the first hit on a bunt single and promptly stole second.
 
Shortway grounded back to Ogden, which moved Hutchinson to third. A wild pitch brought in Hutchinson for the game's first run.
 
John Jay tied the game in the bottom of the third. Gallaspy led off the frame with a single to left. Sandel drove the 1-1 pitch to right center, scoring Gallaspy. The Bloodhounds threatened as Bryant singled through the left side, but both runners were stranded.
 
In the top of the fourth, William Paterson added two more runs, taking a 3-1 lead. Guthy led off with a single.  Palmieri singled through the left side before Gabriella Vazquez walked to load the bases. Campos drove a 2-2 pitch to center field with Hagan scoring, but Vazquez was run down by Kelly Fajardo, who sprinted in and recorded the out at second—a wild pitch brought in the second run of the inning.
 
The score held firm until the Bloodhounds came up in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Sandel recorded her 199th career hit, a single to right, starting the rally for John Jay. The next batter, Bryant, laced a double down the left field line that moved Sandel to third.
 
On the first pitch Cadolino saw, she drove it into the gap in left-center, tying the game at 3-3.
 
In the top of the eighth, Grace Abraham, the ghost runner, was placed at second, and stole third. Hagan walked and moved into scoring position on a successful steal. Palmieri walked to load the bases. The next batter, Vazquez, reached on a fielder choice as she grounded to Sandel at short, who fired a strike to the plate, cutting down Abraham's chance to be the go-ahead run.
 
Campos stepped into the box and sent a fly ball to right, with Hagan tagging up and scoring, giving the visitors a 4-3 lead.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Fornerin came on as the Bloodhounds' ghost runner. Bankston, the hero of game one, flew out to left. Fornerin couldn't stop her momentum and was out trying to move to third for the second out. Angelina Schoelles grounded out to short to end the contest.
 
The Bloodhounds will be back in action on Thursday, March 13, as they will head to Scranton, PA to take on the University of Scranton.
 
First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.