The Baruch Bearcats split a CUNYAC doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday, dropping a heartbreaking 7–6 walk-off decision in Game 1 before rebounding with a 10–6 victory in the nightcap.
Game 1 was a tale of two very different stories. Rutgers-Newark jumped out to a commanding 6–0 lead after five innings and appeared to be in full control.
However, the Bearcats mounted a dramatic comeback in its final at-bat of the seventh inning, erupting for six runs to tie the game. Leliani Jimenez, Kaitlyn Belfield, and Grace Osuch opened the rally with walks to load the bases. Reina Castro-Johnson followed with an RBI single, and Megan Bell drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Osuch then scored on a fielding error to make it 6–3.
The Bearcats kept the pressure on as Mina Barriga walked in a run, Mia Faddah delivered an RBI single, and Ava Lavery capped the rally with an RBI single to knot the game at 6–6. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, Rutgers-Newark responded in the bottom of the inning with a walk-off run to escape with the win after seeing its six-run lead erased.
The Bearcats wasted little time bouncing back in Game 2, seizing control early with a 5–0 advantage through the first two innings. Faddah highlighted the first inning with an RBI triple, and Bell later scored on a fielding error in the second.
Rutgers-Newark answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to 5–3, but Bearcats' offense surged again in the fourth. They capitalized on four walks, a sacrifice fly RBI by Faddah, and an RBI single from Bell to stretch the lead to 10–3.
The Scarlet Raiders added three more runs late, but could get no closer as Baruch secured the split.
Reina Castro-Johnson earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete seven innings with three strikeouts to notch her fifth victory of the season.
The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday for an important CUNYAC home doubleheader against John Jay College. The first game will start at 1:30 p.m. at Flowers Park in New Rochelle, New York.
