Softball Opens Season with Four-Game Spring Break Road Trip

UPPER CHICHESTER AND ABINGTON, PENN. - The Sarah Lawrence women's softball team completed their 2024 Spring Break Road Trip on Tuesday. The team took on Valley Forge on Monday, falling in both ends of the day's doubleheader to open the season. The Gryphons then headed to Abington for a Wednesday doubleheader with Penn State - Abington, falling in two games to the Nittany Lions.

Top Performers

Shirin Pechefsky started three of four games for SLC, pitching 14 innings and striking out 15 batters
Anna Brand reached base twice and stole one base, including a single against the Nittany Lions
Kyra Johnsen drove in a run as well as scoring a run in the team's season-opener against Valley Forge

Day 1: Valley Forge def. Sarah Lawrence 15-2 and 15-0

The Gryphons got ahead early on day one, taking a 2-0 first-inning lead after Pechefsky and Johnsen both scored on errors by the Patriots. The hosts answered right back in the bottom of the inning, using five hits to score five times and take a three-run lead after just the first frame of the day. Valley Forge's Laura Medio held the SLC offense in check from that point on, striking out 12 Gryphons in five innings and holding them scoreless for the remainder of the game while the Valley Forge offense separated from the Gryphons with a six-run third inning to eventual claim a 15-2 victory. Game two saw the Patriots waste no time building a lead, scoring six points in the first inning and nine in the second to build a 15-run lead. The Gryphons would see Jordyn Benda and Juliet DeLap reach base, but the team could not drive them in and the Patriots held on for a 15-0 victory.

Day 2: Penn State Abington def. Sarah Lawrence 23-0 and 18-0

The Gryphons once again fell behind early, with the Nittany Lions scoring five runs in the first inning and crossing the plate multiple times in the next two innings as well to build up a hefty lead. Pechefsky would strike out five, but it would not be enough as the Gryphons could not find a way on base against PSU's Gretchen Yanss. Game two was a similar story with the Nittany Lions getting ahead early thanks to a surging offense while the Gryphons struggled to reach base. A single to open the top of the fifth by Brand would not be enough as the Nittany Lions held on for their second shutout victory of the day.

Up Next

The Gryphons (0-4) will return to action on Thursday, March 21st as they host John Jay for a doubleheader as their 2024 home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Bronxville with game two following shortly after the completion of game one.