BRONX, N.Y. – The Lehman College softball team won both games of a critical CUNY Athletic Conference doubleheader versus York College, 11-9 and 11-7, on Monday evening on the South Field. The Lightning have now clinched a spot in the CUNY Athletic Conference Championships and will be no lower than the number five seed. 

In Game One, Lehman (10-20, 4-8 CUNYAC) fell behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning, but would strike back in the bottom of the frame. With two runs already in, freshman pitcher Meghan Bravo (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) drilled a two-run double to right field, which tied the game at four. Sophomore right fielder Chariny Graciano (Jackson Heights, N.Y./Information Technology) gave Lehman their first lead of the game by driving in two more runs on a single, to cap a six-run first inning.

After the Cardinals (5-17, 1-11 CUNYAC) regained the lead, 8-7, Bravo hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to score junior first baseman Ashley Williams (Bronx, N.Y./Bronx Leadership Academy) and tie the game at eight. It was the first of four consecutive unanswered runs for Lehman, capped by a Kyala Cruz (Brooklyn, N.Y./American Senior) RBI sacrifice in the sixth inning.

York scored a run in the top of the seventh but Lehman held on to win the game, 11-9. Bravo earned the victory in relief, scattering four hits while allowing one unearned run over three full innings.

In Game Two, Lehman once again fell behind early as York held a 4-1 lead, but Lehman would rally for a three-run fourth inning to tie the game. The big blow came off the bat of freshman third baseman Linda Resto (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman H.S.), who connected for a ground-rule double that drove in two runs.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Cruz scored from third on a wild pitch to give Lehman its first lead of the game, 5-4. Later in the inning, Bravo and senior outfielder Sheila San Andres (Woodhaven, N.Y./Construction Trade) each tallied RBI singles to extend Lehman's lead to 7-4.

In the sixth inning, York managed to tie the score, but Lehman came from behind for the second straight game, and scored four runs in the bottom of the inning. Cruz ripped an RBI double to score senior centerfielder Jelsey Cox (Queens Village, N.Y./Campus Magnet) and gave Lehman the lead once again. Two batters later, sophomore shortstop Jona Kerluku (Ozone Park, N.Y./Construction Trade) singled to drive in Cruz, before Graciano ripped a single that scored San Andres.  Kerluku eventually came around for the final run of the game.

Bravo earned her second win of the night, this time as the starter. She earned her seventh win of the season, as she went six full innings, striking out six. Resto had hits in all four plate appearances, raising her season batting average to .286.

Lehman will complete the 2014 regular season on Friday, April 25, hosting Yeshiva University for a midday doubleheader, as game one starts at 10:00 a.m. Between the games, Lehman will honor the two seniors on the team, Cox and San Andres, who will be playing their final home games.