BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) softball team erupted for a combined 31 runs over two games to sweep Sarah Lawrence College in a Skyline Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at LIU Post. The Bears took the opener in five innings, 22-0, and followed it up with a 9-0 victory in game two, also decided in five frames.

On a milestone-filled afternoon, game one saw Makena Burr (Foster City, Calif.) notch her 100th career strikeout in just her second season while Vivian Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) became only the second Bear on record to hit for the cycle. In the latter contest, sophomore Payton Walker (Eastvale, Calif.), who totaled 12 runs batted in on the day, surpassed the program single-season record in RBI.

How it Happened (Game 1)

The Bears wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, sending 16 batters to the plate in an explosive 11-run first inning. Walker belted a three-run homer while Garcia had a leadoff triple and doubled later in the stanza. The offense stayed hot in the second with eight more runs, highlighted by three-run home runs from Garcia and Jessica Jakob (Covina, Calif.). Garcia's opposite-field single in the third completed her cycle as the squad combined for three runs in the next two innings to lock in the 22-0 result.

In the circle, Burr tossed a five-inning shutout, limiting the Gryphons to just three hits while striking out six. Her first strikeout of the second inning brought her over the 100-strikeout threshold.

How it Happened (Game 2)

St. Joseph's picked up right where they left off, scoring four runs in the first and five more in the second to build a commanding lead and holding on for the 9-0 win. A three-run shot and a grand slam from Walker once again paced the offense while Olivia Martinez (Tomball, Texas), Valarie Scott (Tucson, Ariz.), Kiara Coy (Clifton, N.J.), and Autumn Poppett (San Diego, Calif.) all had doubles.

For the Bears (Game 1)

• Garcia's cycle is the first since Jillian Troise did so against the Gryphons in May 2012. She finished 4-for-4 with five RBI and three runs.

• Walker also batted 4-for-4 with five RBI. She also crossed the plate thrice.

• Leila Heller (Belle Chasse, La.) and Audrey Scott (Rocklin, Calif.) each went 3-for-3 with four runs. The former had two RBI while the latter registered her first home run since an inside-the-park home run against Lehman during her rookie season (2023).

• Jakob had five RBI while her homer was the first of her collegiate career.

• Martinez and Brielle Nelson (Chandler, Ariz.) each had two hits.

• Lauren Van Der Kamp (Sacramento, Calif.) batted in a pair.

• Burr improves to 9-4 in the circle as her six K's bring her to 104 career strikeouts.

• The Bears' four home runs matched a single-game record.

For the Bears (Game 2)

• Walker's seven RBIs marked a career high. Her grand slam—her first in an SJBK uniform—pushed her season total to 48, breaking the program's single-season record of 47 set by CJ Kavanagh in 2007.

• Walker, Poppett, and Martinez all scored twice.

• Walker, Poppett, V. Scott, and Jakob all had two-hit games.

• Garcia, Martinez, Van Der Kamp, Coy, and Kamryn Walls (Middle Village, N.Y.) all had hits.

• Poppett struck out six Gryphons, moving to 2-1 on the year.

Up Next

The Bears will return to action on Saturday, April 26, when they visit SUNY Old Westbury. First pitch is scheduled for 12 pm