BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Second-seeded John Jay captured its fourth straight CUNY Athletic Conference softball title with a 9-1, five-inning win over third-seeded Brooklyn in the final of the 2026 CUNYAC Softball Championship hosted by Brooklyn on Friday.
Brooklyn earned its finals trip by dowing No. 4 Hunter 7-4 in Friday's first game.
The Bloodhounds (18-20) earn their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship and will learn their next opponent on Monday when the 64-team field is released via NCAA.com. It marks John Jay's fifth title in program history.
John Jay junior pitcher Lindsay Ogden was named the Championship Most Valuable Player for the third straight season. She posted a 2-0 record in the tournament striking out 16 in 11 innings of work. On Friday she allowed four hits and one run in five innings and fanned nine.
After Brooklyn, which was making its first finals appearance in program history, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, John Jay scored twice in the bottom of the third and once more in the fourth to make it 3-1. The Bloodhounds then exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.
Natalie Polanco led John Jay with three hits and a pair of RBI as the Bloodhounds belted out 14 hits on the afternoon. Kelly Fajardo, Kendal Bryant, Alyssa Cadolino and Natalie Graham each had two hits, with Cadolino also driving in two runs.
Haylee Burleigh drove in Brooklyn's lone run on a triple down the left field line.
In the opener, Brooklyn took control against the fourth-seeded Hawks with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to break open what had been a 2-2 game after both teams plated a pair of runs in the first. Hunter did grab two runs in the top of the sixth.
Burleigh and Katelyn Young each had two hits for the Bulldogs, with Young driving in a pair of runs. Kureshma Dahnraj earned the win in the circle, scattering 10 hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Hunter was led by Abigail Bidinger who had three hits, including an RBI triple in the first. Grace Basil and Giordana Bowen each had two hits for the Hawks.
Championship MVP Lindsay Ogden (John Jay)
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