PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Purchase College softball team opened its home slate with a doubleheader sweep over York College Wednesday afternoon. With contributions from both the Panther offense and pitchers, Kelly Agostini, Emily Foltin and Tara Sasso, Purchase walked away with 17-0 and 18-2 victories on the day.

Game One: Purchase 17, York 0 (5 innings)
Purchase erupted with six runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 6-0 lead. Brianna Palermo (JR/Hyde Park, NY) led off with a walk and came around to score following a trio of swiped bases.

Jaiya Hewitt (SR/Kingston, NY) later singled to left field to bring Olivia Audia (FR/Dover Plains, NY) in from third base. The Panthers tacked on another four runs following a Rebecca Bronzi (FR/Lagrangeville, NY) stolen base and RBIs from Foltin (SO/Somers, NY), Julia Marsala (SO/Shoreham, NY) and Palmero, respectively.

Purchase held the advantage over York for the remainder of the game, tacking on security runs in every inning.

A slew of Panthers finished with notable performances. Hewitt went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three stolen bases, while Foltin batted 2-for-4 with three RBI. Palermo smashed a double and tallied three RBI and three stolen bases. Hewitt, Zanaia Godette ((JR/Queens, NY) and Olivia McLellan (FR/Corning, NY) also recorded doubles in the twin bill opener.

Foltin (1-0) earned the win for PC after putting in 3.0 innings of work on the mound. The PC closer struck out five, walked two, and held the visitors scoreless on two hits. Sasso (JR/North Rockland, NY) started the game and recorded four strikeouts and three walks without a single hit over 2.0 innings of action.  

York's Kiara Gonzalez (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up 17 runs (13 ER) on nine hits and 15 walks.

Game Two: Purchase 18, York 2 (5 innings)
Purchase opened game two in similar fashion—knocking in a series of early runs and holding the advantage over York throughout the game.

Palermo was again the first to score—this time on a wild pitch with Sasso at the plate. A Bronzi sacrifice flyout to center field brought Sasso in to score, 2-0. McLellan later singled through the right side to score Agostini (SR/Centereach, NY) and a Jade D'Errico RBI walk sent McLellan home to round out the 4-0 scoring in the first inning.

Purchase saw its most notable offensive showing in the bottom of the second. The hard-hitting stanza fueled a 10 run inning that put PC at a comfortable 14-0 advantage.

The Panthers added four more runs in the third inning before York's bats finally came alive with a pair of hits and two runs scored in the top of the fourth.  
Despite their comeback attempt, the Cardinals could not erase Purchase's generous lead, as York took the loss in game two, 18-2.

Bronzi led with two hits on two trips to the plate, including a triple and season-best six RBI. McLellan also produced a pair of hits, to go along with three runs and one RBI. Agostini went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while D'Errico went 1-for-1 with three RBI and two walks. Sasso led the Panther lineup in stolen bases with three.

Agostini (1-3) earned her first win of the season after tossing 3.0 innings of two hit, no run softball. She tallied an impressive five strikeouts against 10 batters. Foltin closed the game for Purchase, giving up two runs on two hits with one strikeout.

York starting pitcher Mary Cuevas (0-1) picked up the loss after giving up 18 runs (16 ER) on 18 walks and nine hits.

Up next
Purchase will take on the Bearcats of Baruch College this Saturday (Mar. 26), starting at 11 a.m. The non-conference doubleheader will be played at the Purchase diamond but will be Baruch's home game.