Myrtle Beach, S.C – The Albertus Magnus College softball team opened the 2016 season with a pair of victories on Monday in non-conference play at the NMB Park and Sports Complex Field No. 5 in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Falcons defeated Rutgers-Camden, 3-2, in dramatic fashion in game one before cruising to a 7-1 victory against Sarah Lawrence in the second contest.

In game one, the Falcons erased a two-run deficit with three runs in the home half of the seventh to earn their first win of the spring. With one out in the final frame, sophomore Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) lined a single through the right side that brought the winning run charging home. The walk-off hit helped Albertus Magnus open the year with a win for the first time since the 2013 season.

Also in the bottom of the seventh against the Raptors, sophomore Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) walked with the bases loaded to plate the first AMC run of the contest and junior Megan Kelly (Bronx, N.Y.) followed with a bloop single to right that tied the contest at two.

In the circle, sophomore Megan Ferraro went the distance for Albertus Magnus to earn her 11th career win. She scattered four hits and struck out four batters, while surrendering just one earned run.

Albertus Magnus erased an early one-run deficit with seven unanswered runs to take down Sarah Lawrence in game two.

Gryphon leadoff hitter Taryn Penna came around to score the first run of the contest on a sac fly to left by Baylie Petit.

AMC would answer in the home half of the second with a four-run outburst. Freshman Kristen Cunning (Hoboken, N.J.) helped herself out at the dish, knocking a double that scored three runs with one out in the frame. With the two-run lead at 3-1, Cunning came around to score on a passed ball to close out the scoring in the inning adn give the Falcons a three-run advantage.

In the bottom of the third, freshman Maxine Sanchez (Corona, N.Y.) hit a triple to left field that scored two runs. Sanchez recorded her first career RBIs as senior Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) and sophomore Kristen McGinty (East Lyme, Conn.) raced home.

The Falcons added an insurance run in the seventh as sophomore Brianna Whitfield (West Islip, N.Y.) hit a single down the line that scored Kelly.

In the circle, Cunning was impressive in her collegiate debut. The 5-5 righty went the distance and scattered seven hits to earn the victory. Cunning struck out two hitters and the run she surrendered in the first inning was unearned.

Albertus Magnus returns to action on Tuesday, March 15, with a pair of contests against Principia and Wisconsin-Stout. The Falcons take on the Panthers at 9:30 am and square off with Blue Devils at 11:30 am.

For the latest information on the softball team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.