PURCHASE, N.Y. - After a pair of "interesting" seasons in 2020 and 2021, the Purchase College softball team is set for a full slate of games in 2022, beginning tomorrow (March 3rd) in Myrtle Beach, SC.

The Panthers are participating in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic down in Myrtle, playing six games over the next three days. To start the year, Purchase takes on the University of Mary Washington and Grove City College at 10 a.m. and noon, respectively.

Following the trip south, the Panthers kick off the rest of their season with the home opener against Lehman College on March 8th. 

However, despite a full slate of games in March, Purchase won't play it's Skyline Conference opener until April 2nd, when it hosts Sarah Lawrence College. 

Senior Day hasn't been announced yet, but April 20th against the College of St. Elizabeth or the season finale against Manhattanville College on May 1st are safe bets. 

In total, the Panthers are scheduled for 42 games, which would be the most played in a year in team history.

As for the players themselves, Purchase enters the 2022 campaign with 17 players, including 10 returners.

Leading the charge is a quartet of seniors: Kelly Agostini (Centereach, NY) Alexandria Perez (Bronx, NY), Jaiya Hewitt (Kingston, NY) and Karina Medina (Bronx, NY). 

The other returners include: Brianna Palermo (JR/Hyde Park, NY), Zanaia Godette (JR/Queens, NY), Hannah Cronin (Granby, CT), Julia Marsala (SO/Shoreham, NY), Jade D'Errico (SO/Wantagh, NY) and Erin Mullen (JR/Woodlawn, NY). 

On the offensive side of things, the trio of Marsala, Hewitt and Agostini all hit above .250 last year, with the latter leading the team in hits (18) and RBIs (six).

In addition to leading the Panthers' offense, Agostini also served as the team's sole pitcher for the entire season. However, that won't be the case in 2022, as newcomers Tara Sasso (JR/North Rockland, NY) and Emily Foltin (SO/Somers, NY) are set to bring pitching experience.

Joining Sasso and Foltin on the newcomers list is: Olivia Audia (FR/Dover Plains, NY), Rebecca Bronzi (FR/LaGrangeville, NY), Olivia McLellan (FR/Corning, NY), Katherine Combe (FR/Brooklyn, NY) and Pamella Gonzalez (JR/Bronx, NY), who was on the 2020 squad but never played in a game because of Covid-19.

Leading Purchase as its head coach for his fifth season is Mark Sergio. Sergio will be joined by a soon-to-be announced assistant coach and his trio of captains - Agostini, Perez and Palermo.

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