BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – For the first time in school history, the Sarah Lawrence softball team qualified for the postseason, securing a spot in the Skyline Softball Tournament following a sweep over Old Westbury Saturday in the regular season finale at Mary Levine Field on Senior Day. The Gryphons won the first game, 4-3, and defeated the Panthers, 8-0, in the nightcap. With the sweep, Sarah Lawrence concludes the regular season 17-16 overall, a new school record for wins.
IN SHORT
Sarah Lawrence (16-16, 6-9) def. Old Westbury (9-15, 2-11), 4-3
Sarah Lawrence (17-16, 7-9) def. Old Westbury (9-16, 2-12), 8-0
GRYPHONS IN THE POSTSEASON
The Gryphons softball team is the third squad this season at Sarah Lawrence to qualify for the postseason, joining women's soccer and men's basketball. The softball team is the second women's squad to clinch a playoff berth since Sarah Lawrence transitioned to NCAA Division III in 2014-15.
Sarah Lawrence continues to put together strong regular seasons, as the Gryphons have increased their win total in each of the last five seasons.
TOP GRYPHON PERFORMERS
Hannah Akin had a strong day, batting .800 (4-for-5) with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Baylie Petit went 3-for-6 with two runs batted in, while
Tiffany McBrayer went 3-for-6 with four runs scored and one run batted in.
Karissa McAuley recorded two hits and four RBIs, while
Mackenzie Mindish finished with two hits, two runs batted in and one run scored.
Rebecca Roberts turned in her first collegiate multi-hit outing in game two, while
Mikayla Cunningham scored two runs.
Overall, Sarah Lawrence batted .362 on the day, while the pitching duo of McAuley and
Bailey Nguyen limited Old Westbury to a .133 batting average.
It was Senior Day, and before opening pitch, Sarah Lawrence Athletics recognized the 2019 softball senior class of Petit and Cunningham.
RECAP
Sarah Lawrence 4, Old Westbury 3
The Gryphons scored one run in the opening frame, powered by a two-out single from Nguyen to score McBrayer. Sarah Lawrence plated three more runs in the second inning, as Akin drew a bases loaded walk, followed by a two-run single from McAuley.
Old Westbury scored one run in the third inning and two more in the sixth to make it a one-run contest, but were unable to complete the comeback.
McAuley earned her eighth win of the season in the circle. The junior tossed a complete game, scattering four hits while striking out eight.
Sarah Lawrence 8, Old Westbury 0
Sarah Lawrence scored two runs in the first inning, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Petit and a single from McAuley.
The Gryphons scored three more times in the second inning. Akin drove in a run off a double, followed by a two-run single from Mindish. All three runs were scored with two outs on the field.
Sarah Lawrence plated two more runs in the fifth inning, thanks to RBIs from McAuley and Petit, and scored once more in the sixth following a single from McBrayer to score Roberts.
Nguyen was the winning pitcher, tossing a two-hit shutout while striking out 16 batters, surpassing her previous school record of 13. The rookie now has four games with at least 10 strikeouts and three shutout performances. Nguyen has recorded 80 strikeouts this year, a new program standard.
UP NEXT
Sarah Lawrence will be the No. 6 seed in the Skyline Tournament, and will take on No. 3 Mount Saint Mary on Wednesday (May 1). The Gryphons split with the Knights in the regular season.
