BRONX, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) softball team opened their 2026 season with defeats to New York University on Tuesday night at Bahoshy Field. The Bears saw a pair of runs come across the plate in a 2-10 game-one deficit before dropping game two, 0-12.
Game 1
Leading 1–0 entering the top half of the second inning, the Violets quickly extended their lead when Emma Sung opened the frame with a home run to left field. After two scoreless one-two-three innings, the Bears finally got on the board with their first runs of the season. Audrey Scott (Rocklin, Calif.) scored on a single by Vivian Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.), and rookie Alyssa Garcia (Montebello, Calif.) later crossed the plate in the inning to even the game at 2–2.
However, a string of singles combined with Bear errors in the bottom of the fifth allowed NYU to push across seven runs and take control of the game. Another error in the bottom of the sixth sealed the hosts' run-rule victory.
Payton Walker (Eastvale, Calif.) and Brielle Nelson (Chandler, Ariz.) also registered base hits with the former accounting for a stolen base. Junior Makena Burr (Foster City, Calif.) was dealt the loss in the circle, tossing 4.2 innings and striking out a pair of Violets.Â
Game 2
The Bears outhit the Violets 3–2 through the first two innings of the nightcap. Similar to the opener, NYU broke the game open with a big inning, plating 10 runs in the bottom of the third.
St. Joseph's left a pair of runners stranded across the fourth and fifth innings, while the Violets added to their lead with two more runs in the fourth to make it 12–0 and secure the sweep.
Nelson went 2-for-3 at the dish in game two. Walker, Valarie Scott (Tucson, Ariz.), and Makena Lopez (Eastvale, Calif.) also recorded base knocks. Already making her collegiate debut, A. Garcia made her first start in the circle but was charged with the loss after 2.1 innings. Leila Heller (Belle Chasse, La.) pitched the remainder of the game for the Bears.
In addition to A. Garcia and Lopez, the twinbill also saw the debuts for first-years Leah Magallanes (Sylmar, Calif.) and Nicole Shultz (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).
The Bears head south for spring break to compete in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. They begin their three-day, six-game Florida slate on Monday morning, March 16, with matchups against Crown College and Geneva College.