The New York University softball team dropped a pair of University Athletic Association (UAA) games to visiting Case Western Reserve University on Saturday, April 22, at the College of Staten Island.

The Violets were celebrating Senior Day, but could not overcome the #7 nationally-ranked Spartans, who posted 7-0 and 3-2 victories.

The first game was no contest, as Sophia Leon led off the bottom of the sixth inning with the Violets' only hit of the game. 

The second game was competitive to the last at-bat. Case built a 2-0 lead, but the Violets cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth when Madi Hand was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs. Chloe Blanc, who had two hits in the game, followed with a screamer to center field that was caught.

The Spartans scored another run in the top of the sixth, but the Violets rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Hannah Becker led off with a single and Samantha Burggraf followed with a walk. Marina Egbert then advanced both runners. Hand followed with an RBI single for one run, but the Violets could not plate the equalizer and fell one run short.

"Case was able to get the key hits when they needed it. We just weren't able to barrel up enough," said Head Coach Now-Allah James. "If you can't string hits together it's difficult to beat someone, especially one of the best teams in the country." 

Egbert went the distance for NYU in the circle, while Leon and Burggraf also had two hits.

Prior to the games, Blanc, Burgggraf, Leon, and their families were celebrated.

"A really great group. We are going to miss them," James added. "They've put in a lot of time and effort, and I couldn't have asked for more from them. They leave the program in a better place than when they arrived."

The Violets travel to play Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT, next Sunday, April 30, for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00pm.