Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Purchase, NY (Apr. 18, 2014) – Good Friday indeed!

Especially for a Purchase College softball fan. Softball posted two walk-off wins Friday, besting St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn 2-1 in the opener and then 13-5 in game two. In a tale of two different games, Purchase, which improved to 7-15 overall in the non-conference matchup, showed it could win the close game and also rout an opponent, winning the finale via the eight-run, run-rule after five innings.   

In the opener, SJC-BKLYN scored a single run in the top half of the first, manufacturing a run on a walk, a passed ball and a pair of groundouts.

In the bottom half of the first, Christine Leo (SR/Monroe, CT), who also walked to open the frame and advanced on a well-placed out, was thrown out trying to score on a ToniAnn Licata (JR/Mount Kisco, NY) single to left. Leo was gunned down 7-6-2, ending the threat.

Starter Nicole Fortuna (FR/New Rochelle, NY) allowed one run in the first, but did not allow a hit through three innings. In the fourth, she surrendered two singles, including a pop up that blooped into shallow right field, but the righty ace settled down and pitched her way out of the jam.

Feeding off the momentum swing, the Panthers tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a homer by Licata that cleared the left field fence. The leadoff blast turned the game around for the hosts, who would later win on a walk-off hit.   

The two starters were the story in the opener, with Fortuna and Jamilynn McGowan matching zeroes aside from the first inning for the Bears and the longball in the fourth for the Panthers.

Purchase stranded a runner on second in the sixth, but could not bring across the go-ahead, scattering five hits throughout the first six innings, thanks largely to the pitching of McGowan in the circle.

On the flipside, Fortuna allowed three hits over the first seven innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, Purchase won the game in grand fashion. With one out, a walk to Tara Stiansen (SO/Hampton Bays, NY) followed by a pair of sharp singles by Amanda Green (FR/Roslyn Heights, NY) and Leo loaded the bases for the hero of the game: Christina Sanderson (SR/Schaghticoke, NY). Sanderson delivered a liner over the head of the third baseman and into left field for the game-winning run.

Fortuna struck out five over seven innings for the victory. McGowan struck out one and walked four, taking the loss. Offensively in game one, Purchase was paced by Green and Licata. Green collected three hits and Licata added two of her own, as the duo accounted for five of the eight hits.  

Fortuna toed the rubber in game two and navigated around some early trouble. She allowed two hits in the first, but with runners on second and third induced two grounders to end the inning.

SJC-BKLYN's Jackie Perillo, who collected one of the team's three hits in the opener and started in center field, started on the mound.  

The Panthers started strong offensively, loading the bases in the first behind two singles and two walks, the second of which by Mary Adams (FR/Milton, PA) plated the game's first round. Perillo settled down, but would allow a second run on an infield single by Fortuna. Purchase opened game two with two runs on three hits.

The Bears bounced back with three runs in the third, highlighted by two walks, a single and a two-run scoring double from Shannon Rom.

Purchase countered with two runs in the bottom of the third, manufacturing a pair of runs on key RBI singles by Fortuna and Stiansen. The two runs helped the Panthers take the lead back.

The visitors answered with a run on three hits in the fourth to tie the game. SJC-BKLYN's Cassandra Molina drove home the tying run on an RBI single.

In the bottom of the fourth, Purchase jumped back on top, moving Leo around the bases. Leo opened with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. She scored on an infield error.

The Bears scratched across a run in the fifth on two hits, but Purchase, holding strong at 9-5, put the finishing touches on the victory by scoring four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to seal the game. A single by Leo, followed by two walks and an error plated the first run. Sanderson would score on a wild pitch before an error advanced the runners, setting the stage for Fortuna to be the hero on the mound and at the plate in game two. The starting pitcher smashed a two-run single that ended the game. Her line drive played Adams and Licata.

Fortuna improved to 6-6 on the season in the circle. Fortuna and Leo each collected three hits apiece in game two, totaling six of the team's 10 hits. Fortuna finished with four RBI in the game two win as Purchase capped the second straight twin bill sweep.

SJC-BKLYN dropped to 7-13 overall.  

The red-hot Panthers return to action tomorrow at Farmingdale State.