Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2
 
Purchase, NY (Apr. 13, 2014) – The Purchase Panthers women's softball team celebrated Senior Day today, recognizing four seniors before the home crowd.

Christine Leo (SR/Monroe, CT), Christina Sanderson (SR/Schaghticoke, NY), Juliet-Rain Pagan (SR/Bronx, NY) and Stephanie Gaudinier (SR/Verplanck NY), were honored in an on-field ceremony held between the first and second games of a doubleheader between the Panthers (3-14) and the Sage Gators (15-10). The Gators took both games, 9-2 and 11-0, respectively.  

Leo, Sanderson, Pagan and Gaudinier were each given a certificate, acknowledging their contributions to the Panthers, and bouquets of flowers. The seniors also took pictures with friends and family on the field and will be honored again in May at the program's annual awards banquet.

Leo was an important member of the Panthers in the field, pitching and fielding, and also at the plate, where she college her 100th career hit Saturday against CMSV.  She is "batting over .350 this season and is a tremendous leader," said Sports Information Director Bobby Ciafardini, who MCed the ceremony. Leo was awarded with a commemorative ball for her 100th hit during the celebration.

Sanderson, a three-year contributor, plays a strong defensive second base and is currently batting .475 for the season. Head coach Albana Krasniqi says that Sanderson has "been a huge asset to the program from day one."

Pagan has "swag" in the outfield, says coach Krasniqi, a reference to an inside joke on the team, where Pagan told the coaching staff she doesn't have to catch fly balls with two hands, because she has swag. "Pagan is a talented defensive player, who has been a core member of a rebuilding program," Ciafardini noted, adding, "She has been a great teammate and mentor to the younger Panthers.

Gaudinier is a flexible utility player who does whatever her coaches ask.  "She sacrifices individual accolades for the benefit of the team, and has been extremely coachable in her entire career with the Panthers," Ciafardini said to the crowd.

The Panthers fought valiantly on Senior Day, but came up short in both games against the Gators.

Leo and ToniAnn Licata (JR/Mount Kisco, NY) both notched RBI singles in the fifth inning of the first game as the Panthers attempted to come back from the large deficit.

In the opener, Sage used two four-run innings, the first and third, to seal the win. Kristen Beikirch and Katie Kovage led the way with three runs and three RBI, respectively.

In the second game, a four-run first inning set the tone for the visitors, who got four hits from Hillary Faas.

Licata accounted for two of the team's eight hits in game two, while Leo and April Uhl (FR/Jackson Heights, NY) each collected a hit in game one to lead the way. Uhl was sharp defensively for the Panthers at third base and Sanderson made some brilliant plays in the field on Senior Day at second base. Seniors Leo, Gaudinier and Pagan each recorded hits on Senior Day as well for Purchase.   

Up next, the Panthers play a doubleheader against Sarah Lawrence College on Apr. 16.