Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Lehman College softball team settled for a split against John Jay, in a CUNY Athletic Conference doubleheader held on Randall's Island, on Thursday afternoon. Lehman won the first game, 16-14, while dropping Game Two, 11-3.
 
In the first game, the Lightning scored six runs in the top of the first, all with two outs. Junior catcher Kyala Cruz (Brooklyn, N.Y./American Senior) started Lehman's run production by hitting a solo home run to centerfield. With the Lightning up 2-0, and runners on the corners, junior outfielder Chariny Graciano (Jackson Heights, N.Y./Information Technology) singled, scoring junior shortstop Jona Kerluku (Ozone Park, N.Y./CTEA), for Lehman's third run.
 
Two batters later, with the bases loaded, sophomore outfielder Micharey Almanzar (Bronx, N.Y./Park East) produced a two-run single to extend Lehman's lead to 5-0. Classmate Arlette Martinez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Metropolitan) capped off Lehman's big inning by driving in sophomore outfielder Imalay Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y./Metropolitan) on a single, to make it 6-0 in favor of the Lightning.
 
In the top of the second, Cruz and Kerluku tallied back-to-back RBI singles to put Lehman up 8-0.
 
With Lehman up 8-1 in the top of the third, sophomore pitcher Meghan Bravo (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) belted a three-run homerun to put the Lightning up by ten runs.
 
The Bloodhounds (6-10, 1-1 CUNYAC) would not go down without a fight, scoring eight runs in the home half of the fifth, to cut Lehman's lead to 11-9. John Jay added one more run in the bottom of the sixth, to pull within 11-10.
 
The Lightning got their offense back on track in the top of the seventh, by scoring five more runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Kerluku, to take a 16-10 lead. Rodriguez added an RBI single in the frame.
 
The Bloodhounds managed to pull within two runs, at 16-14, in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, John Jay had runners on first and second, with the potential game-winning run at the plate. In the circle, Bravo was able to pick up the last two outs, capped off by a strikeout, to clinch Lehman's first conference win of the season.
 
For the game, Cruz led the way at the plate, picking up four hits, including a home run and a double, and scoring four runs. Kerluku drove in three runs, scored twice, and had two hits. Bravo reached base in all five of her plate appearances, scoring three runs, driving in as many runs, drilling a home run, and drawing four walks. In the circle, she pitched a complete game, surrendering nine earned runs and striking out four hitters in seven innings pitched, to earn the win.
 
In the second game, the Lightning (5-4, 1-3 CUNYAC) gave up 11 runs in the first two innings. Lehman scored all three runs in the top of the fifth, thanks to a two-run single from Kerluku and an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Linda Resto (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman H.S.).
 
Bravo took the loss, but pitched another complete game, giving up six earned runs and fanning a pair of batters.
 
The Lightning will be back in action on Monday, for a CUNYAC doubleheader against Hunter, on the South Field. The first pitch of the opening game will be thrown at 4:30 p.m.