Union, NJ - The John Jay softball team made a valiant comeback attempt in game one but dropped the nightcap on the road to Kean University, falling 4-3 in game one and 11-2 (5 innings) in game two.

The Bloodhounds fall to 4-9 on the season while the Cougars move to 6-8.

Game 1 | John Jay 3, Kean 4
A late rally attempt came up short for the John Jay softball team as the Bloodhounds fell to the Cougars, 4-3, in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Kean struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. Brianna Sciulli singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Nikki Lusnia to give the Cougars an early 1–0 lead.

The Bloodhounds responded immediately in the second inning when Kendal Bryant tied the game with one swing of the bat. The junior launched a solo home run to left field, evening the score at 1–1.

John Jay took its first lead in the third inning after Elika Rodrigues reached on a bunt single and stole second. Natalie Graham followed with a single up the middle to plate Rodrigues and put the Bloodhounds ahead, 2–1.

Kean threatened in the third, but Lindsay Ogden worked out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts to keep John Jay in front.

The Cougars tied the game in the fourth inning when Ashley Weber delivered an RBI single to right field, scoring Kiley Allen to make it 2–2.

The turning point came in the fifth inning. After two runners reached base, Maddie Cerami lined a single that brought home two runs, giving Kean its first lead since the opening frame at 4–2.

John Jay continued to battle and threatened again in the seventh. Sidney Bankston drew a leadoff walk and moved to third following a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Graham delivered again with an RBI single up the middle to score Bankston and trim the deficit to 4–3. However, Kean retired the final batter to secure the victory.

Graham led the Bloodhound offense, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Bryant added the solo home run while Rodrigues scored a run and recorded a stolen base.

In the circle, Ogden went the distance for John Jay, tossing six innings while allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out four.

Kean pitcher Nikki Lusnia earned the win, striking out 13 batters across seven innings while allowing three runs on five hits.

Game 2 | John Jay 2, Kean 11 (5 innings)
A big second inning proved to be the difference as the Bloodhounds fell to 11-2 in the nightcap.

Kean struck first in the opening frame to manufacture an early run. Brianna Sciulli reached base and stole two bags before coming around to score on an RBI single up the middle by Gina Mahlik, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

The game shifted decisively in the bottom of the second, where Kean sent 12 batters to the plate and erupted for seven runs on three hits, aided by five walks and two wild pitches. Sciulli delivered an RBI single to extend the lead, while Colleen Downey drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another.

A wild pitch plated an additional run before Mahlik and Nikki Lusnia each came through with RBI hits, including a two-run single from Lusnia. A sacrifice fly from Morgan Boyd capped the inning, pushing the advantage to 8-0.

John Jay (2 runs on 5 hits) responded in the top of the third with its most productive offensive stretch of the afternoon. Sidney Bankston worked a leadoff walk and later scored on an RBI single up the middle from Natalie Graham. Moments later, Alyssa Cadolino lined a single to right field to bring home Adrianna Barragan, trimming the deficit to 8-2.

Kean answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, adding two more runs. Lusnia recorded a sacrifice fly, and Samantha Raymond drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 10-2.

From there, Raymond settled in the circle, limiting the Bloodhounds to just two hits over the final two innings to secure the complete-game victory. She finished allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three.

Graham (1-3) was tagged with the loss for John Jay, surrendering eight runs in 1.1 innings of work. Barragan provided stability in relief, tossing 2.2 innings while allowing two runs.

Offensively, Graham and Cadolino each recorded an RBI, while Bankston reached base twice and scored a run. Kendal Bryant and Kelly Fajardo also contributed hits in the effort.

Kean was led by Sciulli, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three stolen bases, while Mahlik added three hits and two RBIs.

Lusnia drove in three runs to pace the Cougars' offense, which capitalized on 13 walks in the contest.

John Jay will host Albertus Magnus on Friday, March 20, at the Bahoshy Softball Complex on the campus of Fordham University.

First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.