PATCHOGUE, N.Y. - For the first time in 691 days, the Purchase College softball team played a game against another team.

After missing all of last year due to COVID-19 canceling their season before it began, the Panthers retook the field Saturday afternoon for the first time since April 29, 2019 to face the Golden Eagles of St. Joseph's College-Long Island.

And while the games didn't go as planned with the Panthers dropping both contests, the team still relished the opportunity to take the field, especially senior Kelly Agostini (SR/Centereach, NY) and head coach Mark Sergio, as the pair are only two holdovers for the 2019 season.

However, despite the excitement by the Panthers to return to play, Saturday belonged to the Golden Eagles, as they topped Purchase by the scores of 15-0 and 8-0.

In game one, Agostini singled in her first at bat of the year, while Hannah Cronin (FR/Granby, CT) earned her first collegiate hit in the fourth. Agostini, the team's lone pitcher, also recorded two strikeouts over four innings of work.

Game two was better for the Panthers all-around, as the bats started to wake up for the guests. Brianna Palermo (SO/Hyde Park, NY) recorded her first collegiate hit with a double in first inning, before Agostini singled later in the frame.

Cronin tallied another single in the fourth inning, while Jaiya Hewitt (JR/Kingston, NY) followed that up with a single of her own. 

One frame later, Jade D'Errico (FR/Wantagh, NY) and Agostini each tallied singles to close out the afternoon for Purchase. 

Up next for the Panthers is the team's home opener, as they host the Golden Eagles tomorrow (3/21) at 11 a.m. You can follow along with Live Stats and Live Video right here.