As CUNYAC continues with championship games, the Baruch College Bearcats saw another week of valiant efforts to continue advancements in each team’s respective playoffs.

The Bearcat men’s tennis, baseball and softball teams played key matches this week, determining the teams’ placements for the season.

Men’s Tennis

The Bearcats dominated the Farmingdale College Rams 5-1 last week in the first round of the NCAA tournament, advancing to the second round this past weekend in a highly anticipated game. Despite giving it their all, the Bearcats suffered a devastating loss to Tufts University Jumbos, 5-0.

Matching up in Medford, Massachusetts, the Jumbos won the three doubles and two singles for the 5-0 win.

However, the Bearcats made sure to make it an uphill battle in the No. 1 doubles match, where Bearcats Christopher Tham and Nicholas Santiago scored six points against the Jumbo’s eight.

Santiago played memorable matches this season, in many games prior winning 8-0 against opponents. Despite the loss, Tham also played well this season, winning the majority of his doubles.

Tham also won the CUNYAC Finals MVP and CUNYAC Player of the Year award, capping off a phenomenal season.

The Bearcats also played hard in the singles, with Jim Bauer only narrowly missing a win with a final score of 7-5 before the matches halted.

Despite this weekend’s loss, the Bearcats successfully finished the season with 15 wins, which is the second highest in team history behind the 16-3 record of the 2012 season.

Women’s Softball

The Bearcats softball team split a doubleheader with the John Jay College Bloodhounds this weekend, with a 1-0 win in the first game.

The win was in part due to the stellar performances of pitcher Carly Quint, who notched five hits and five strikeouts, and outfielder Megan Bell. Bell hit an inside-the park homer in the sixth inning that led to the one-home run to secure a victory.

However, the Bloodhounds made a comeback in the second game with a 5-1 win over the Bearcats. Yet Baruch made sure to fight to the end, with Bell scoring a run in the team’s last at-bat.

After this weekend’s games, Baruch is now tied with John Jay, 8-2, for first place in the CUNYAC. The Hunter College Hawks follow close behind with a 6-2 record. Hunter’s game against the Brooklyn College Bulldogs on May 8 will determine the Bearcats placement in the CUNYAC playoff seeding.

Men’s Baseball

In the spirit of Bearcat Appreciation Day, seniors Jacob Auerbach and Jake Ourvan played their final home games in a doubleheader against the Lehman College Lightning.

Starting off strong, the Bearcats beat the Lightning in their first game, 5-2. Notably, pitcher Nathaniel Demchak pitched a complete game, and is now 8-0 against CUNYAC competition.

Andrew Horyczun hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning. With Brian Hwang ready at the plate, it was 3-for-3 in the win, helping Baruch to secure a lead ahead of Lightning.

However, the Lightning made a comeback in the latter game, winning 4-1. With a 2-1 lead in the first inning, the Lightning also stacked runs in the fifth and six innings to secure a win.

Despite the loss, the Bearcats made worthy plays as Bearcats Joseph Cocozza hit a double, and Pedro Tejada Jr. and Jake Ourvan each hit a single respectively.

The Bearcats are now 9-3 in the CUNYAC, and will now have a rematch with Lehman at 3:30 p.m. on May 9 for the CUNYAC Championship.