Staten Island, NY– Although entering the day as the top seed, the Hawks didn't remain on top for long as they dropped the first game against #3 Baruch 1-0, but were able to battle back in the second game to eliminate the defending champion #2 College of Staten Island in extra innings and then forced the deciding game seven with a 3-1 win over Baruch to close out the second day of the 2008 CUNY Athletic Conference Softball Championship Tournament at the CSI Softball Complex.
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GAME 4: CUNYAC Finals-Day 2 | Staten Island, NY
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Baruch College (22-21 overall)
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0
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0
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0
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1
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0
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0
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-
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1
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3
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2
|
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Hunter College (19-19 overall)
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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-
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0
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3
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1
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Senior outfielder Cynthia Duran (New York, NY/Murry Bergtraum) sent a shot to right field for a one out triple in the top of the fourth and would be brought home two batters later on a sacrifice fly to score what would become the game-winning run for the Bearcats.
Hunter then opened up the bottom half of the inning with a lead-off triple from freshman short stop Megan McKenna (Rockaway, NY/Midwood), but they were not able to capitalize as the next three batters went down in order.
Senior right-
hander Allyshia West (Owen Sound, ON/West Hills Secondary) got the start on the mound for Hunter, striking out seven batters and giving up one earned run in seven innings of action, while freshman Lynn Schiano (Queens, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) picked up the win for the Bearcats, finishing with three strikeouts in the complete game shutout.
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GAME 5: CUNYAC Finals-Day 2 | Staten Island, NY
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College of Staten Island (20-23 overall)
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2
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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-
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3
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6
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1
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Hunter College (20-19 overall)
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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2
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0
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1
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-
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4
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8
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0
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After watching the Dolphins open the game with two runs, sophomore outfielder Stephanie Alves (Queens, NY/Francis Lewis) hit double to left field and was brought home two batters later when sophomore catcher Jacqueline Frank (Broad Channel, NY/Stella Maris) singled to center field.
The Dolphins then extended their lead in the top of the third when a double by freshman outfielder Alyssa D'Elia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) brought home senior catcher Nicole Estrada (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) to take a 3-1 lead.
Hunter remained quiet until a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed Frank to cross the plate to close the gap to just one run. A few batters later, freshman third baseman Danielle Maresca (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) hit a triple and then came home following an error by the short stop on a hit by freshman designated player Victoria Capece (Floral Park, NY/Mary Louis Academy) to tie the game at 3-3 and forcing extra innings.
Heading in to the extra stanza, the
International Tie-Breaker Rule comes into affect which states each team starts the inning with the player who completed the last official at bat, as a base runner on second base. After getting out of the top half of the inning without any runs against them, the Hawks took advantage of the extra base runner in scoring position as junior outfielder Jennifer Damroth (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) laid down a sacrifice bunt to send Frank to third and then came home on a throw to first after a hit by senior outfielder Priscilla Gonzalez-Alcea (Brooklyn, NY/Edward R. Murrow) who is awarded the RBI.
West was on the mound once again for the Hawks, pitching eight innings with eight strikeouts and three earned runs. Freshman Krysta Kinsella (New Jersey/Morristown) also went the full eight innings, finishing three strikeouts and two earned runs in defeat.
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GAME 6: CUNYAC Finals-Day 2 | Staten Island, NY
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Baruch College (22-22 overall)
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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-
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1
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5
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3
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Hunter College (21-19 overall)
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0
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1
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0
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1
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1
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X
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-
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3
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3
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1
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Heading into the final game of the day it was do or die time for the Hawks, a loss would hand the title over to Baruch and a win would force the deciding game seven on Sunday. This was not a new scenario for the Hawks, who were in a similar situation last season.
Baruch struck first again, sending a run across the plate with two outs in the top of the second inning. Then in the bottom half of the inning with Damroth on first after being hit by a pitch, Gonzalez-Alcea put down a bunt where a miscue by the Baruch third baseman would result in Damroth tying the game and Gonzalez-Alcea reaching third base.
Hunter added two insurance runs in the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead to 3-1. Frank finished the game hitting 2-for-3 with a run batted in. On the mound, West struck out one batter and allowed one earned run for her fourth consecutive complete game in just two days. On the day, West pitched 22 innings, struck out 16 batters and gave up just five earned runs.
Following the double-elimination format, the Hawks will now play Baruch on Sunday, with the CUNYAC Championship and an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament at stake. This will be the fourth meeting between Hunter and Baruch this season in a deciding championship game with Hunter holding a 2-1 edge (men's volleyball & women's tennis) over Baruch. Hunter is in search for the program's 11th CUNYAC Title, while the Bearcats will be playing at a chance to earn their first ever softball crown in the 28 years the conference has sponsored the sport.
- Hunter -
