Near Win In First Game Leaves Bitter Taste After Doubleheader Loss

April 3, 2012

Box Score Gm. 1
Box Score Gm. 2

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - Three outs from what would have been a confidence-boosting 3-2 victory, the Lehman softball team watched as host SUNY Old Westbury used a Lightning miscue and back-to-back doubles to steal a 4-3 win in the first game of Tuesday's non-conference doubleheader, and then blanked the Lightning 8-0 in the second game for a sweep that dropped the visitors to 5-13 on the season.

Trailing 2-0, Lehman tied the game in the top of the sixth on consecutive two-out RBI singles by Janet Ortiz and Natalie Martinez. In the bottom of the inning, the Lightning received a huge defensive play from centerfielder Toni Angel Puya as she threw out Alex Heany after the Panthers' DH tried to stretch a double into a triple leading off the inning. Martinez then set the next two batters down to give her teammates a shot to push ahead in the top of the seventh.

And push ahead they did as Puya led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jelsey Cox, and raced home on a fielder's choice grounder by Ashley Williams.

But the good fortune proved to be too much for the Lightning as Jennifer Jean reach on an error to start the inning. Marissa Brightman promptly doubled her home to tie the game, followed by the game-winning double by Samantha Siegler.

Martinez was the hard-luck loser as she gave up all four runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out four.

In addition to her hit that drew the Lightning to within 2-1, Ortiz also slammed a fourth inning single.

Lehman hung close over the first three innings of the second game, trailing just 1-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, but five runs by the Panthers were more than enough for starter Alyssa Clancy, who allowed only two hits in her six innings of work.

A crucial conference doubleheader looms on the horizon for the Lehman, which travels to Brooklyn College on Thursday.

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