Purchase, NY (March 30, 2016) – The month of March isn't over yet and the Purchase College softball team has nearly matched its win total from 2015, soundly defeating York College in both ends of a doubleheader Wednesday to improve to 8-2 on the spring.

The Panthers, who won 10 games a year ago, are well on their way to building on that total in 2016. Purchase opened Wednesday in a convincing 13-0, five-inning, run-ruled matchup with the rebuilding Cardinals –a CUNY, non-conference rival. The Panthers then completed the twin bill shutout sweep in another shortened five-inning affair, winning game two, 12-0.

In game one, Purchase started with two runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-RBI triple from rookie Kelly Hayes (FR/Staten Island, NY).

Panther starter Nicole Fortuna (JR/New Rochelle, NY) tossed consecutive scoreless innings to kick start Purchase.

The lineup added four runs in the second. Fortuna doubled in the third run before Lisa Kentris (FR/Latham, NY) plated Fortuna from second. Tara Stiansen (SR/Hampton Bays, NY) would also double before Hayes reached on an error, scoring Stiansen.

Stiansen would later triple two more home in the third after Samantha Alonzo (SR/Wappingers Falls, NY) scored on a wild pitch. The three runs made it 9-0 Purchase. The Panthers finished off the frame with another single run and then tacked on three more in the fourth, highlighted by an Alyssa Delgado (SR/Rockland, NY) double and RBI, and a Briana Leon (JR/Glen Cove, NY) single that pushed Delgado to third before an error brought her home.

Fortuna closed out the game in the circle, striking out seven and allowing only one hit to improve to 5-0.

Stiansen led the way offensively in the opener, recording three hits and three RBI. Kentris and Alonzo added two hits each.

In game two, Kentris scored the game's first run on a wild pitch as Purchase would go on to plate four in the first inning. Among the highlights, Hayes tripled to right field and scored two more in the first.

Purchase scored five runs in the second. Mary Adams (JR/Milton, PA) and Antonina Fiore (SO/Mount Sinai, NY) both had RBIs in the inning. Adams doubled, while Fiore singled.

In the third, Leon grounded out to shortstop and plated the team's 10th run of the game. Hayes singled and drove in a run to cap the scoring in the inning before ToniAnn Licata (SR/Mount Kisco, NY) singled and recorded an RBI in the fourth to push the lead to 12-0.

That was more than enough for starter Alonzo, who went four and struck out six. Newcomer Kylia Maddox-Langley (FR/Mount Vernon, NY) came on and pitched a scoreless fifth. She struck out one to seal the win.

Hayes paced the Panthers in game two. She had two hits and four RBI. Kentris went 2-for-2 with three runs at the top of the order. The duo accounted for four of the team's 11 hits. 

York is now 0-6. 

The Panthers return to action Saturday in their conference opener at the College of Mt. St. Vincent.