The Baruch College Bearcats softball team was eliminated from the 2022 CUNY Athletic Conference Softball Championship tournament after weather delays caused the tournament’s second day to be postponed to May 8.

The contest continued with a best-of-three series between the winners of the first round, the No. 1 Hunter College Hawks and the No. 2 John Jay Bloodhounds

The Hawks won the title, two games to one. According to CUNYAC, the decision to change the tournament’s format was a consequence of the NCAA requiring all conferences to determine a champion prior to May 9, when the Division III softball champions selections are announced.

Originally, a double-elimination format was planned to determine a champion, with the winners’ and losers’ finals taking place on May 7.

“The decision to move to this format was made following lengthy discussions with the remaining member institutions,” the CUNYAC statement reads in part.

Prior to the scheduling update, the No. 3 Bearcats were set to play the No. 4 Lehman College Lightning in the loser’s bracket.

In the first round, Baruch came back from an early deficit to take the lead in the fourth inning before the Bloodhounds took control in the fourth, scoring seven runs. The Bearcats lost, 3-11.

At the start of the game, the Bloodhounds got in front of the Bearcats, facing Caroline Gallagher in the first. After striking out her first batter, she allowed three straight hits, including two doubles, that gave the Bloodhounds a 2-0 lead.

With base runners on second and third, CUNYAC Player of the Year Carly Quint hit a two RBI double to tie the game and advanced to third on a passed ball before the next batter struck out.

Quint moved on the mound in the next inning and allowed two straight hits before securing three outs to end the frame.

Emilia Zakoscielny reached on a fielder’s choice in the fourth and advanced to second after an error. After stealing third, the Bearcats took their first lead of the game after Jessica Davis hit an RBI single.

With two outs and a runner on first for the Bloodhounds in the fourth, the Bearcats were in position to maintain their lead into the next inning. The next batter, however, reached after an error to load the bases for Maleea Gallaspy who hit a two RBI single to retake the lead for the Bloodhounds.

The Bearcats could not prevent further damage, giving up more runs after an error by the shortstop and an RBI triple by Mackenzie Tresch.

The Bloodhounds walked off Baruch in the fifth when Rylea Sandel hit an RBI double to score Alisha Cherian.

Starting pitcher Gallagher pitched two innings, allowing four hits, two runs and striking out one.

Stepping on the mound in relief, Quint struggled in two and 1/3 innings and allowed six hits, nine runs and five walks.

Baruch softball will continue its season at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Championship on May 12. The team will play Marywood University in a best-of-three series.