Purchase, NY
(March 12, 2016) – New Purchase softball skipper
Ryan Doty earned his first collegiate win Saturday as a head coach, as his Panthers carved up a double header sweep of non-conference Baruch in the program's season and home-opening twin bill, 11-0 and 13-0, respectively.
The Panthers started with a shortened 11-0 victory in game one. Purchase, which quickly improved to 1-0, broke the game open in the third with seven runs and then added four in the fourth before closing the door in the top half of the fifth.
Ace
Samantha Alonzo (SR/Wappingers Falls, NY) picked up right where she left off in 2015. In her final regular-season appearance, Alonzo pitched a no-hitter against the College of New Rochelle. Today, in her first start of the 2016 campaign, the right hander was brilliant once again, tossing a one-hitter. She struck out six, including the game's final batter, while allowing only one walk, and a single in the first inning to Salena Robles.
Alonzo settled in nicely and retired 11 straight before the walk in the fifth. She struck out three in the fifth to seal the win in the circle.
Briana Leon (JR/Glen Cove, NY) plated the game's first run on an RBI single to shortstop, which brought home
Lisa Kentris (FR/Latham, NY). Kentris started the rally with a single to lead off the inning. Alonzo then backed her own cause with an RBI double.
Shortly later, with the bases loaded,
Shannon Clancy (SO/Babylon, NY) walked in a run.
ToniAnn Licata (SR/Mount Kisco, NY) followed and provided another big blow in the inning – a two-RBI double.
Mary Adams (JR/Milton, PA) and Kentris collected the final two RBIs in the frame, with Adams singling home a run and Kentris smashing a sacrifice fly to center as the lineup turned over. All told, Purchase scored seven runs on five hits.
The Panthers chased Baruch starter Cassandra Lagana in the fourth, adding four runs. Purchase loaded the bases with no outs and newcomer
Kelly Hayes (FR/Staten Island, NY) blasted a triple to the left-center gap that caromed off the fence and brought home three. Hayes would come in to score on a sacrifice by Licata, her third RBI of game one.
Tara Stiansen (SR/Hampton Bays, NY) and Leon led the way with two hits apiece, while Hayes and Licata paced the lineup with three RBI apiece.
Purchase (2-0) wasted little time jumping all over the Bearcats (0-6) in game two and picking up where it left off in the opener.
The Panthers scored six runs in the first and another six runs in the third. In between, Purchase added a single run in the second en route to a 13-0, five-inning, run-ruled victory in game two.
Like Alonzo in game one, game two starter
Nicole Fortuna (JR/New Rochelle, NY) was dialed in. Fortuna, who also finished 2015 with a no-hitter, allowed only two hits over four innings. Kentris tossed a scoreless fifth in relief to keep the shutout intact.
Kentris started the rally in the first inning. She led off with a double. The Panthers would manufacture a run behind walk and an error before Alonzo walked and Hayes walked, setting the stage for Clancy. The returning All-Skyline 2nd Teamer jacked a three-run double, plating Hayes, Alonzo and Leon. Leading 4-0, Purchase tacked on two more in the frame, highlighted by an RBI single by Licata.
The relentless offensive attack added a single run in the second on a Hayes RBI double, which plated Leon. Leon doubled two batters earlier.
In the third, Purchase ran away with the game, scoring six more times. Kentris knocked home the seventh run, followed by two RBIs from Stiansen, an RBI single from Leon and another big shot from Clancy – this time a two RBI double. Purchase scored six runs on six hits and never looked back.
Clancy went 2-for-3 with five RBIs in game two. She was among four with two hits in game two, including Kentris, Leon and Fortuna. Stiansen added two RBI in the win.
The Panthers will look to build off today's wins, when Purchase returns to action Tuesday at home, welcoming Lehman College for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
