The Lehman softball squad, participating in the double elimination CUNYAC Tournament, dropped the opener 9-1 to Hunter and then faced Baruch in an elimination game. The Lightning rebounded with an 8-1 victory. Earlier in the day Baruch fell to CSI and has now been eliminated.
Maranda Diaz led off the first game with a single up the middle and after a pair of stolen bases was driven home on a sacrifice file by Genesis Paulino. The Hawks answered in their first at bat scoring two runs on three hits. After a scoreless second, the Lightning threatened in the third after Stephany Cruz reached on an infield single and a single down the right field line by Diaz gave Lehman first and third with one out however the Lightning were unable to produce a run. Hunter manufactured a pair of runs in the third after a walk, wild pitch, sacrifice, a ground out and an error. The Hawks added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and three in the fifth to earn the victory 9-1.
In the elimination game….The Bearcats jumped out on top with a run in the first. Lehman immediately answered in the home half as Diaz led off with a single to center field. She stole second and as she was stealing third Diamond Villegas draw a walk. The throw from the catcher to third went all the way to the left field fence enabling Diaz and Villegas to score giving Lehman a 2-1 lead. Lehman plated two more runs in the bottom of first. Tiffany Adames drew a walk and was moved to third when Caitlin Vernon delivered a hit down the right field line. Andrelina Gil then singled to left scoring Adames and Vernon. Lehman added two more in the third as Adames led off with a double to left center. She scored on a Vernon single to right. After a sacrifice advanced her to third Vernon scored on a successful squeeze play by Samantha Torres. In the bottom of the fourth the Lightning struck again. Villegas singled up the middle and was pinch ran for by Labriska Charles. After a sacrifice Adames doubled to right scoring Charles. Vernon and Gil were then hit by pitch to load the bases but the Lightning were unable to capitalize any further and took a 7-1 lead into the fifth. Villegas led off the sixth with a double to right center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She later scored on a triple to right center by Paulino to give the Lightning an 8-1 lead.
Villegas closed the Bearcats down in the seventh to pick up her ninth win of the season. She limited the Baruch to two hits. The Lightning belted out 11 hits en route to victory.
The Lightning move onto to Day Two as they open the day at 11 AM with an elimination game against the loser of the Hunter.
