Brooklyn, NY - The defending two-time CUNYAC champions, the John Jay softball team, opened their title defense with a 3-1 triumph over the No. 4 seed Baruch in the first game of the 2025 CUNYAC Championship, held at Brooklyn College.

The Bloodhounds move to 28-9 and await the Brooklyn Hunter winner in game four of the first day of competition. Baruch (12-23)  will face the loser of Brooklyn/Hunter in game three of the day.

Maleea Gallaspy, Elika Rodrigues, Kendal Bryant, and Sidney Bankston had a hit with Rodrigues driving in two RBIs. Bryant had the other RBI.

Natalie Graham started the contest for the Bloodhounds, going three innings, allowing a run on two hits while walking five and striking out a batter.Lindsay Ogden came on in relief, picking up her 12th win of the season, not allowing a hit or a run despite walking three and striking out six batters. 

Jules Wychunas and Ava Lavery had a hit each while Mina Barriga was credited with the lone RBI. Reina Castro-Johnson took the loss for the Bearcats, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out three. 

Both pitchers tossed up zeroes until the top of the third. Baruch got on the board first as Wychunas reached on a single to first before moving to third on a throwing error by Angelina Schoelles at second. The next batter, Barriga, flew out to right field as Wychunas crossed the plate for the 1-0 lead. 

The Bloodhounds rallied in the bottom of the inning to take a one-run lead. Following a pair of flyouts, Kelly Fajardo walked. Maleea Gallaspy singled to right center, moving Fajardo to third. After Gallaspy stole second, Rodrigues sent a hard-hit single to left center field, scoring both runners as the Bloodhounds took their first lead. 

Ogden came in to start the fourth and worked into a bit of trouble with a walk to Castro-Johnson, and Wychunas reached on an error. Ava Lavery walked to load the bases, but Ogden settled back in the circle, striking out Barriga to end the threat.

John Jay tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Bryant sent a single to center that scored Sadel from second. John Jay threatened for more, but Castro-Johnson got Alysaa Cadolino to strike out, ending the inning.

Baruch was down to the last chance in the top of the seventh. Ogden hit Lavery with a pitch, got the next two batters to fly out to Rodrigues in left. Leilani Jimenez was Baruch's last chance, but Ogden pulled a string on an offspeed pitch, striking out Jimenez to end the ballgame.