PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Purchase College softball team earned a doubleheader split Thursday afternoon, as the Panthers opened Skyline Conference play against Sarah Lawrence College.

Purchase fell in the first game, 5-2, before bouncing back with an 8-4 win to close out the day. With the split decision, the Panthers are now 4-6, while the Gryphons of Sarah Lawrence are 6-9.

Sarah Lawrence struck first on the day, as the hosts put up two runs over the first two innings. The score remained 2-0 until the fifth, when Daniella Edelson (SR/Hopewell Junction, NY) scored on a wild pitch and Victoria Capone-Froio (SR/Yonkers, NY) smacked an RBI single during the next at-bat to tie the contest. 

However, the tie score was short lived, as an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth put Sarah Lawrence back in front. An inning later, the Gryphons added a pair of runs and were able to hold on for the 5-2 win.

Karissa McAuley (JR/Loudonville, NY) earned the win for Sarah Lawrence. She tossed a 7-inning complete game and allowed just two runs on seven hits. 

For Purchase, Kelly Agostini received the loss. Edelson, Almonte and Cassidy Montes each collected two hits apiece for the Panthers in the effort.

In game two, things changed in favor of the visitors.

After an early run put Sarah Lawrence ahead, the Panthers responded with back-to-back four run innings in the fourth and fifth. An RBI double from Kelly Hayes (SR/Staten Island, NY) got things started in the fourth. During the next at-bat, Shawna Smith (SO/Kingston, NY) singled in two runs, before a sacrifice fly from Iyania Martin (SO/Queens Bridge, NY) made it 4-1.

An inning later, a pair of two-run singles from Emily Nugent (FR/Bronx, NY) and Martin, extended the lead to 8-1. The Gryphons added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth, but ultimately fell, 8-4.

Montes finished with the win for the Panthers, after she allowed four runs on eight hits. She also recorded five strikeouts. As for the offense, Hayes led the charge with three hits in contest, while Montes and Kaitlyn Antonelli (SO/Yonkers, NY) each tallied a pair of hits apiece.

Up next for the Panthers is the Skyline home opener. The team will take on the College of Mount Saint Vincent on March 30th in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. and you can follow it here.