Albany, N.Y. ? Junior pitchers Leah McIntosh and Marissa Powell each threw a shutout in the circle in leading the UAlbany softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Siena in the home opener at Albany Field on Wednesday, March 25. The Great Danes, who extended their home winning streak in the regular season to 15 games, won both contests by identical scores of 2-0.

            After McIntosh struck out the side in the top half of the first inning, UAlbany got all the scoring it needed in the bottom half of the opening frame. Andrianna Walraven was hit by a pitch to start the game, and then stole second. Kristine Bill followed up with a single to right center, and advanced to second base on the throw home by center fielder Jenny McNulty to keep Walraven at third. Michelle Connors then got hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Walraven made it home for the first run on a sacrifice fly to center by Meagan Butsch.

            Pitcher Jamie Piela continued to have trouble settling down on the mound, hitting Gina Mason with a pitch to load the bases for the second time in the stanza. Two batters later, Katie Wambold walked to force in the second run. Piela, who gave up only three hits the rest of the way, avoided any further damage by inducing a groundout to retire the side. A pitcher's duel ensued between McIntosh and Piela, but the Great Danes held on for the win.

            UAlbany's McIntosh improved to 10-0 this season with the victory and dropped her earned run average to 0.42. She recorded nine strikeouts while only giving up four hits and one walk. Siena's Piela fell to 1-4 with the loss. She surrendered four hits, two runs which were earned and one walk.

            In game two, UAlbany got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Butsch knocked out a home run to straightaway center. After only recording a bunt single in the top of the first, Siena (2-11) got a spark offensively in the top half of the fifth when Amanda Filipazzo led off with a double to center. However, Marissa Powell, who recorded her first shutout of the season, was able to get out of trouble with some help from catcher Kat Smith after Fillipazzo advanced to third on a groundout by Lindsey McKeever.

Batting with two outs, Courtney Brinkman popped up a pitch in foul territory that appeared to be headed towards the stands behind home plate. However, it dropped just short and was caught by Smith at the fence to end the inning.

            The Great Danes added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Diane MacDowell led off with a bunt single, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She made it over to third when Walraven grounded out to second on the next play, and scored on a single up the middle by Bill. Powell took care of the rest by retiring the side in order in the seventh, as the Great Danes captured their seventh victory in the last eight tries.

            UAlbany's Powell improved to 3-7 with the victory. She struck out six while scattering just two hits and inducing only one walk. Siena's Filipazzo fell to 1-4 with the loss despite striking out five and only surrendering two runs which were earned along with four hits.

            UAlbany (13-7) opens up America East Conference play this weekend on the road against Boston University. Last year, the Great Danes swept the three-game series between the teams at Albany Field to clinch the regular season title. The two squads will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28 beginning at 1 p.m. The series finale will start at noon on Sunday, March 29.

-agate

            Siena                000       000       0          0          4          0

            UAlbany            200       000       x          2          4          0

            UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith

            Siena: Jamie Piela and Nastasha Powlowsky

            Siena                000       000       0          0          2          0

            UAlbany            010       001       x          2          4          1

            UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.

            Siena: Amanda Filipazzo and Nastasha Powlowsky.

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Siena............... 000 000 0 -  0  4  0
Albany.............. 200 000 X -  2  4  0
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Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Siena............... 000 000 0 -  0  2  0
Albany.............. 010 001 X -  2  4  1
-----------------------------------------