BRONX, NY - Playing in their first two games of the season, the Yeshiva softball team fell to Lehman College, losing to the Lightning by scores of 23-0 and 19-3 on Tuesday, Mar. 13.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were led by a trio of run scorers, with Rebecca Kalmar, Tova Hakakian and Rachel Lincer all stomping on home plate.
 
From the mound, the Macs saw a solid performance out of Kayla Cagan. Pitching in relief both games, Cagan spent a combined 3.1 innings in the circle, allowing nine hits and seven runs in the process.
 
With the result, the Macs are 0-2 on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 1 (L, 23-0)

• Yeshiva struggled on both offense and defense in game one. The Macs gave up 23 runs over five innings, surrendering 10 in the first, four in the second, three in the third, three in the fourth and three in the fifth.
   
• YU's lone hit came in the bottom of the first inning, with Kagan reaching first on a single to the shortstop. Kagan's offense proved the best chance Yeshiva had at putting up points, advancing to second after Tali Schimmel drew a walk. However, both runners were left stranded following a pair of Maccabee strikeouts.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Hits: Cagan (1)
• Strikeouts: Leibowitz (4)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 2 (L, 19-3)

• Shaking off any preseason rust, the Macs fared better in game number two. Yeshiva gave up only 19 runs, with the Lightning scoring three in the first, three in the second, nine in the third, two in the fourth and two in the fifth.
   
• Yeshiva's offensive explosion came in the bottom of the second. After Kalmar, Hakakian and Ashley Botnick all drew walks to load the bases, the Macs continued to rattle the Lehman pitcher, demonstrating excellent plate presence by drawing an additional three walks, tallying their first runs of the 2024 season in the process.
   
• YU had the chance to put up more runs in the fourth inning. After Jordyn Guritzky singled to first base, Cagan smacked a double into deep left field, advancing her teammate to third with no one out. Unfortunately, three straight outs would leave runners stranded on the corners.
   
• Despite struggling in the first game, Alexis Leibowitz had a much better tenure on the mound in game two, giving up 11 hits and four earned runs over 2.2 innings pitched.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Runs: Kalmar (1), Hakakian (1), Lincer (1)
• RBIs: Lincer (1), Leibowitz (1), Guritzky (1)
• Hits: Leibowitz (1), Guritzky (1), Cagan (1)

 
UP NEXT
Hitting the road for the first time in 2024, the Maccabees will travel out to York College on Thursday, Mar. 14 at 2:00/4:00 PM.