BRONX, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University softball team suffered a pair of hard-fought losses to St. Joseph's College Long Island, by scores of 6-3 and 17-1, at Bahoshy Field on Sunday evening. The Golden Eagles move into a tie for second place in the conference standings (10-2 Skyline, 14-10 overall), while the Maccabees fall to 1-23 for the season, and 0-16 in league games.

Yeshiva had a 2-1 lead over St. Joseph's heading into the top of the sixth, but the Golden Eagles scored five runs in that frame to secure the victory.

The two teams combined for only 10 hits in game one.

Earlier in the opening contest, St. Joseph's had runners on second and third, with one out, in the top of the first. Senior pitcher Samantha Cohen got fourth-year third baseman Lyndsay Smocer to line the ball right into the glove of sophomore shortstop Miriam Kazlow, who then threw the ball to junior third baseman Gabi Chutter to get the lead runner out for the 6-6-5 double play.

St. Joseph's got on the board in the top of the second, as an RBI single off the bat of senior shortstop Jillian McFadzen, with two outs, put YU in an early hole.

In the home half of the third, Cohen lined a double to left center, with two outs. She eventually scored on a throwing error by the shortstop to allow YU to tie the game at one run apiece.

The Golden Eagles earned an opportunity to break the game open in the top of the fourth, as St. Joseph's loaded the bases with nobody out. McFadzen hit the ball to junior Basya Goldstein in left field. She caught it and threw the ball to senior catcher Sarah Hiller, who tagged out the runner trying to score from third, for the 7-7-2 double play. With two runners in scoring position, and two outs, Cohen got sophomore left fielder Zoe Kelly to ground out to short to allow YU to escape the bases loaded and nobody out jam, without giving up a run.

In the home half of the fourth inning, Chutter singled through the left side with one out. Senior right fielder Leah Feder followed with a walk. Two batters later, with two runners on base and two outs, sophomore designated player Malky Perlberger slapped a single to center. Feder came around to score and give Yeshiva a 2-1 advantage.

Cohen continued the momentum in the circle, retiring all three opposing batters she faced in the top of the fifth.

The Maccabees earned an opportunity to extend their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Goldstein led off the frame with a double to left field, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Freshman pitcher Catherine Zucker came in to replace first-year player Patricia McGloin in the circle. After Hiller walked, a pitch went off the glove of junior catcher Meagan McClinchey and all the way to the wall, behind home plate. McClinchey threw the ball to Zucker, who tagged Goldstein out as she tried to score. Zucker then threw the ball to Smocer at third, who then tagged out Hiller as she tried to advance. That allowed the Golden Eagles to escape the jam.

St. Joseph's lineup awakened in the sixth, scoring five runs to take a 6-2 hold. McFadzen walked with the bases loaded to tie the game, 2-2. An RBI single by Kelly scored sophomore first baseman Kassandra Tibbetts to give the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead. The next batter was freshman center fielder Jenna Defina, who produced a two-run single to increase YU's deficit to three runs. An RBI groundout by junior pinch hitter Alyssa Rivera capped off the visiting team's big inning.

Yeshiva got one run back in the home half of the sixth, as an RBI groundout by sophomore first baseman Yael Itskowitz scored Kazlow to pull YU to within three.

It was not enough, as St. Joseph's went on to earn the come-from-behind victory in game one, 6-3.

Cohen pitched a complete-game for the Macs, giving up just six hits and four earned runs, but was credited with the loss. Zucker did not allow a hit, pitching 2.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen to earn the win. McGloin started the game and struck out eight YU batters in 4.1 innings pitched.

In game two, St. Joseph's scored seven runs in the first, capped off by a three-run double off the bat of McFadzen, and added eight more in the second, on its way to a convincing victory in the second game.

Yeshiva scored its lone run in the fourth, thanks to an RBI walk with the bases loaded by sophomore third baseman Chana Weinberg. It was not enough, as St. Joseph's went on to win game two, 17-1, to earn the sweep.

At the plate, Goldstein hit a single and drew a walk. Kazlow also reached base with a single, while Chutter earned a base on balls.

In the circle, Cohen started the game and took the loss. Sophomore pitcher Noa Applebaum made her collegiate pitching debut, throwing a shutout inning without giving up a hit.

Freshman pitcher Samantha Yannetti earned the win, pitching three innings in relief. Sophomore pitcher Katelynn Valente started the game and went two innings.

Congratulations to our five graduating seniors, Perlberger, Sarah Elspas, Cohen, Feder, and Hiller. They were honored with a ceremony prior to the second game.

Yeshiva will travel to Long Island, on Tuesday, for a non-conference double-header against York College (N.Y.), beginning at 3:00 p.m.