BRONX, N.Y. – The Lehman College softball team split a pair of games with John Jay College, in the Lightning's home conference opener, on Tuesday evening on the South Field. The Bloodhounds won the opening game, 10-6, while the Lightning took the second, 6-4.

In the opener, the Lightning trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the first when sophomore catcher Kyala Cruz (Brooklyn, N.Y./American Senior) tripled to score sophomore shortstop Jona Kerluku (Ozone Park, N.Y./Construction Trade) to tie the game at one. Cruz then scored on a wild pitch to put the home team up, 2-1.

The Lightning's offense got back on track in the bottom of the fifth inning as freshman third basemen Linda Resto (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman H.S.) scored on a wild pitch for Lehman's third run. Kerluku tallied an RBI single and Cruz grounded into a fielder's choice for an RBI of her own to pull Lehman within 8-5.

Cruz struck again in the bottom of the seventh, knocking in her third run batted in of the game, this time on a double, to shrink John Jay's lead to 10-6. The Bloodhounds were able to hang on and win the game by that score.

In the second game, the Lightning (3-7, 1-3 CUNYAC) trailed, 2-0, after two and a half innings. In the bottom of the third, Cruz continued her clutch hitting by driving in sophomore outfielder Chariny Graciano (Jackson Heights, N.Y./Information Technology) to cut the deficit in half. Later in the inning, Cruz scored on an error to help Lehman pull even at two.

The Bloodhounds (4-6, 1-3 CUNYAC) would regain the lead, 4-2, before the Lightning exploded in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cruz once again provided the heroics as she singled to drive in two more runs, then Graciano scored on an error to put the Lightning up, 5-4.

Lehman scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, thanks to a John Jay error, to go up 6-4.

In the top of the seventh inning, senior Jelsey Cox (Queens Village, N.Y./Campus Magnet) made an amazing play, as she tracked down a fly ball down in centerfield, bobbled it, but held on, to record the second out of the inning. The Bloodhounds eventually put the potential game-tieing run in scoring position before freshman pitcher Meghan Bravo (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) knocked down a linedrive, and threw out the runner at first, to clinch the victory for the Lightning.

Cruz had six runs batted in for the evening, three for each game. Bravo picked up the win as she pitched a complete game, giving up two earned runs and striking out six hitters.

The Lightning will hit the road for a pair of games at the College at Old Westbury on Thursday, April 3. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled to be thrown at 3:00 p.m.