PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Purchase College softball team celebrated a huge day Sunday afternoon, as it closed out the 2022 season with a pair of losses against Manhattanville College on the team's Senior Day.

Scores for the contests were 8-0 and 8-0. With the results, the Panthers finished the year with a 10-22 overall record and 6-12 in the Skyline Conference.

As for the Senior Day celebration, the Panthers honored a pair of players - Kelly Agostini (Centereach, NY) and Jaiya Hewitt (Kingston, NY). The ceremony took place between games, with each being welcomed to the field for photos and gifts with teammates, coaches and family.

During the session, words from head coach Mark Sergio were read to commemorate all the sacrifice and love the two have given the program over the years. After laughs and tears were shared, the team posed for a photo to memorialize the event.

Game 1 - Manhattanville 8, Purchase 0 (5 inn.)

Outside of the Senior Day festivities, the Panthers still had a pair of games to play, and sadly, the Valiants of Manhattanville were not in a giving mode.

In the opening game, the visitors dropped two runs in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth to collect the win. 

For the Purchase offense, the team was limited to just two hits. Agostini collected the loss on the mound, after allowing just two earned runs in the loss. 

Game 2 - Manhattanville 8, Purchase 0 (5 inn.)

Game two was a near clone of the opening matchup, as the Valiants raced ahead once more and never looked back. They exploded for five runs in the second and three more in the fourth to score the eight runs needed for the run rule.

For the hosts, the team was limited to a pair of hits once again, as Zanaia Godette (JR/Queens, NY) recorded both in the effort.

The softball team will return to the field next season in March 2023.

To see the full remarks from head coach Mark Sergio, scroll down:

Kelly Agostini - Kelly has been part of Purchase softball for 5 years, 3 of which Kelly has been a Captain. Kelly has been a starter all 5 of those years as a Pitcher and at 1st base. Not only has she excelled on the softball field, Kelly has maintain a 3.7 GPA. 

In our 2021 COVID modified season, Kelly had a  unique and amazing season being our only pitcher and throwing every pitch in all 28 games, averaging 500- 600 on any given weekend. She has almost had to do the same feat for the 2022 season due to injuries and inexperience with our other pitchers.

Throughout Kelly's 5 years, she has been a leader, a calming influence , a role model , a great teammate and a member of the Purchase community that Purchase can be proud of.  As Kelly takes the next step in her life and moves on from Purchase and the Panther team, she will leave a large void  that will be hard to fill both as an athlete and a person.  Kelly,  we will miss you!

Jaiya Hewitt -  Jaiya came to Purchase as a transfer student and immediately make her impact on our team. She became our starting left fielder quickly and has not given that position up for 3 years. Jaiya battled through injuries and has always been able to answer the call when our team needed her. 

Jaiya has not only excelled on the field, but she has been an inspiration and passionate role model pertaining to social issues which are an important part of her life. She has also been the "Panther Voice" at every practice and game. And on more than one occasion, the softball player Jaiya became "Chef Jaiya" . Her teammates say they never had a bad meal from "Chef Jaiya"

There's a big hole to fill in the Panther outfield when Jaiya hangs up her cleats.  When Jaiya leaves Purchase to continue on her journey, she will undoubtedly be a strong and positive on others in her chosen field of Social Work.