Newburgh, N.Y. – After having the entire 2020 season cancelled due to Covid-19, the Mount Saint Mary College Softball team returned to the field on Saturday and produced a convincing doubleheader sweep, downing Purchase 10-2 and 21-0. The Knights pounded out 32 hits over the two games, including nine that went for extra bases.
 
Game 1
After Purchase plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first of game one, the Knights responded with three tallies in the second, four in the third, two in the fifth and one more in the seventh.
 
After falling behind early, the Mount strung together three hits in the second, including an RBI single from Nicole Rosner (Brewster, N.Y.) that got the Mount on the board. Olivia Ferara (Middletown, N.Y.) followed with a two-run single with two outs in the inning that pushed the Mount in front 3-2 and gave it the lead for good in the game.
 
In the top of the third frame, the Knights got back to work with four more hits to extend their lead to 7-2. Laura Dentato (Farmingdale, N.Y.) started the frame with a double and was quickly chased home on a base hit from Sofia Gannon (East Patchogue, N.Y.). Melanie McClinchey (Medford, N.Y.) produced a two-out, two run double in the inning and was later delivered on a run scoring hit from Ferara to close out the scoring in the inning.
 
Mount Saint Mary extended its lead to 9-2 in the fifth with a pair of runs and closed out the scoring when Ferara scored on an error in the seventh.
 
Ferara finished her collegiate debut 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI with Rosner wrapping up the opener 2-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored and an RBI. Dentato produced two hits, including a double in the win, with McClinchey scoring a run and driving in two.
 
Morgan O'Neill (Little Falls, N.J.) picked up the win in the circle with 4.0 innings of work that featured five strikeouts. Bridget Morris (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) made her collegiate debut with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and fanning five Panthers.
 
Game 2
Mount Saint Mary got right to work in game two, plating five runs in the first, four more in the second and two in the third before exploding for 10 tallies in the fourth inning. The top of the first featured four hits, including two-run singles from both McClinchey and Ferara.
 
In the second, the Mount produced five more hits, including run scoring singles from Samantha Bendig (Bellmore, N.Y.) and Riley Norwood (East Haven, Conn.). Dentato and Rosner extended the Mount's lead to 11-0 an inning later with run producing at-bats for the Mount.
 
The fourth inning was highlighted by eight of the team's 21 hits in the game with Dentato doubling home two runs and Nicole Palmer (Monroe, N.Y.) singling home a run. The Mount sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning to put the game away.
 
Seven different Knights finished the game with at least two hits, led by a 4-for-5 effort from Dentato that included two doubles, three runs and three RBI. McClinchey added three more hits, adding two runs and four RBI with Bendig finishing 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI. Alicia Killeen (Nesconset, N.Y.), Rosner and Palmer each finished the win with two hits and a pair of runs scored.
 
Rosner made her Mount Saint Mary debut in the circle and worked the first two innings, striking out three. Ferara earned the win with two innings of relief and Christen Hansen (Cypress, Calif.) worked a scoreless inning of relief in her season debut.
 
Due to forecasted inclement weather on Sunday, the Mount and Purchase will conclude their series on Monday at the MSMC Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.