UNION, N.J. - The Sarah Lawrence softball team opened the 2026 season with a doubleheader against John Jay on Wednesday afternoon. The Gryphons fell 4-18 in game one before a 2-14 defeat in game two. The Gryphons saw an early-game offensive surge in game two as well as a tremendous defensive play from center field to end the first inning of the nightcap.

Notable Performers

• Caileigh Koenig pitched all eight innings for the Gryphons, striking out seven batters while totaling three hits and two RBIs
• Nicaia Sharp reached base four times, totaling two hits while scoring two runs and stealing a base
• Kyra Johnsen reached base twice, scoring a pair of runs for Sarah Lawrence

Game One

The Gryphons got a pair of baserunners on in the first frame of the season, as Johnsen reached on an error and Isabella Boissonnault walked, but John Jay would strand the pair and get out unblemished. The Bloodhounds would then step on the gas in the home half, racking up 10 hits and turning that in to 10 runs and a substantial first-inning lead. The Gryphons went down in order in the second inning while John Jay added five more runs on four hits and three errors. The third inning saw the Gryphons get on the board, with a single to right field by Sharp following up a leadoff Eva Anderson walk to put a pair of runners on base with no outs. A double play moved Anderson to third base before Koenig's first hit of the day got the team on the board, scoring the first SLC run of 2026. Boissonnault walked again and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with two outs, but John Jay's Kiki Iglesias got out of the jam with an inning-ending groundout that stranded a pair of Gryphons. The Bloodhounds added on a run in the bottom half of the frame, but an inning-ending double play sent the Gryphons back to the plate. A Jordyn Carela walk would be the only SLC baserunner in the fourth inning, as the first year would be stranded and the team kept off the board. The hosts added another in the bottom of the fourth, but back-to-back strikeouts by Koenig ended the threat and sent the game into the fifth. Faced with an early ending, the Gryphons rallied for three more runs. Sharp reached base to lead off the inning after being hit by a pitch before three consecutive walks allowed the sophomore to score and loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed Johnsen to cross the plate a batter later and placed runners on second and third with one out. A strikeout put the hosts one out away from a win, but Koenig would score on an eventual inning-ending groundout and the Gryphons would tack on three more runs despite falling to the Bloodhounds in a shortened five-inning game.

Game Two

The nightcap got started off with a strong SLC showing. Sharp got the team started with an infield single up the middle before a drive into left field put a pair of Gryphons on the bases with no outs. After finding herself in a 1-2 count, Koenig fought off a tough pitch before driving a ball through the left side and brought around Sharp to put the visitors ahead 1-0 with two runners in scoring position. Boissonnault walked for the third time on the afternoon to load the bases. A wild pitch would bring around Johnsen for the team's second run and put runners at second and third with nobody out. An SLC popout would halt the momentum and an inning-ending double play would mitigate the damage and sent the Bloodhounds to the plate trailing by two runs. Koening would take the mound and strike out the leadoff batter before a groundout was handled by Johnsen at the hot corner to put the Gryphons an out away from carrying a 2-0 lead into the second frame. John Jay's Kendal Bryant singled to deep center with two outs, but Ariana Spanopoulos cut Bryant off at second with a terrific throw from the wall to end the inning. The Gryphons went down in order in the second, while the Bloodhounds began their comeback effort, plating a single run on a wild pitch to pull within a run of the Gryphons. The third inning saw a two-out hit by Koenig, but the first year would be stranded as the score remained 2-1 in favor of the visitors. The lead would not last long, as back-to-back doubles by the Bloodhounds opened the frame, plating one and tying the game at two runs apiece. The hosts would add two more scores thanks to a pair of SLC errors, totaling five runs in the frame on just three hits to take a 6-2 lead. Claire Rollins reached on a John Jay error in the fourth inning, but would be the team's lone base runner as the Bloodhounds added to their advantage with seven runs on eight hits and an error. Sharp reached base once again in the fifth, once again via a hit by pitch, before stealing second, but would be stranded there as the hosts swept the day's doubleheader despite the early scoring surge by the Gryphons.

Up Next

The Gryphons (0-2) will return to action on Sunday, March 8th for a doubleheader at Gallaudet starting at 1:00 p.m. The Gryphons will face the Bison on Sunday before wrapping up a Spring Break trip with a matchup against Notre Dame of Maryland on Monday, March 9th.