BOX SCORE
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (May 12, 2023) – For the first time since 2000, the John Jay Bloodhounds are CUNYAC Softball Champions, defeating Baruch 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Brooklyn College. With the win, the Bloodhounds earn the league’s automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
The regular season champion Bloodhounds proved to be the best team over the two-day tournament, winning all three of their contests to earn conference bragging rights for the first time in 23 years and just the second in program history. John Jay reached the conference final after earning victories over No. 4 Brooklyn (11-0) and No. 3 Hunter (9-1), each finishing in five innings.
Jailene Santiago tossed 7.0 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits while striking out five en route to picking up victory No. 21 in the circle this season and her third of the tournament. Santiago also finished the day with a run batted in, and for her efforts was named the championship’s Most Valuable Player.
Maleea Gallaspy went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored and one run batted in, while
Jordyn Prince,
Mackenzie Tresch and
Sidney Bankston finished with a RBI apiece.
Baruch, who reached the championship final for the first time since 2017, scored two runs in the top of the first inning.
Carly Quint scored
Megan Bell on a groundout to second, followed by a RBI single from
Danielle Petrunti, marking her 100th career hit.
John Jay got on the board in the bottom of the frame, thanks to an inside-the-park home run from Gallaspy, her fourth homer of the season.
John Jay took the lead for the good in the third inning, scoring a pair of runs. Gallaspy recorded her second RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly to center field, followed by a fielding error from the Bearcats that aided Tresch to round the bases.
The Bloodhounds scored twice more in the fifth inning.
Angeline Schoelles made it a 4-2 John Jay lead, doubling to right field to score Prince. On the next at-bat, Gallaspsy scored on a RBI groundout from Santiago.
Santiago was sensational in the circle, tossing a no-hitter over the final 5.0 innings of play to secure the win and John Jay’s conference title.