LITTLE RIVER, S.C. – Purchase College softball faced fierce competition to open the 2022 season on Thursday. The Panthers fell to University of Mary Washington and Grove City College on Thursday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic, just outside of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
 
UMW 12, Purchase 0
Caroline Bird batted 2-for-2, including a homerun in the fourth inning, to lead the University of Mary Washington Eagles. Bridget Laychak went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI, while six other Eagles dished out one hit in the shutout victory.

For Purchase, Rebecca Bronzi (FR/Lagrangeville, NY) produced the lone hit—a single to center field in the top of fourth.

Brooklynne James (1-1) picked up her first win on the hill with six strikeouts and just one hit in a complete-game (5 inning) performance.  
Purchase starter Tara Sasso (JR/North Rockland, NY) suffered the loss—a first for the Panther newcomer—after giving up eight runs over three innings of action.
 
Grove City 7, Purchase 1
Grove City jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a trio of runs in both the first and second innings before Purchase broke its scoring ice in the top of the fourth.

Leadoff hitter Hannah Cronin (SO/Gansby, CT) ignited the run with a double to left field. Karina Medina (SR/Brooklyn, NY) came in to pinch run for Cronin and later came around to score on a Jaiya Hewitt (SR/Kingston, NY) single to shortstop. 

Grove City capped the scoring with a run in the fifth. Maralee Caldana got on base following a Purchase error and swiped home to stretch the Wolvarine advantage to 7-1.

Purchase will return to the North Myrtle Beach diamond tomorrow for a 10 a.m. matchup against Waynesburg University.