Albany, N.Y. - Kylie Apostolina went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Katie Wambold recorded a home run to lead UAlbany to a 7-3 win over crosstown-rival Siena in the first game of a non-conference softball doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Albany Field. It took eight innings, but the Saints clamed a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.

            In game one, the Great Danes took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Wambold's solo homer over the left-field fence. After Siena tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second on a home run by Courtney Brinkman, UAlbany added four runs in the second to open up a 5-1 lead. Jess Bergin walked to start the inning and came home on an RBI single by Apostolina. Kristine Bill recorded a double into center that scored Apostolina and Melissa Herndon, who reached on a base hit, before coming home herself on a Wambold single.

            The Great Danes tacked on another run in the third on Apostolina's RBI single that scored Gina Mason. Siena cut the lead back to 6-2 in the top of the fourth with the Saints' second home run of the game, a solo shot by Shannon Jones. Siena pulled within three runs to start the sixth inning, taking advantage of a UAlbany fielding error. However, UAlbany added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame on an unearned run by Lindsey Strout that set the final score.

            Brittany MacFawn earned the win in the circle for UAlbany, striking out five in a complete-game performance. Starter Jessika Jo Sandrini took the loss for Siena after allowing five earned runs without a strikeout.

            In the nightcap, UAlbany once again took an early lead with one run scored in the first inning. Diane MacDowell walked, and then stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. MacDowell, who leads the Great Danes with 14 stolen bases, stole home for UAlbany's lone run. Siena tied the game in the third when a sacrifice fly by Jones scored Lindsey McKeever.

The teams played four scoreless innings before heading into extra frames. Sandrini scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth, coming home on a UAlbany fielding error after starting the inning placed on second base. Despite getting pinch runner Alison Haan in scoring position at third, the Great Danes could not produce a run in the bottom of the frame to set the final score.

Amanda Filippazzo earned the win for Siena (10-13), recording two strikeouts in a complete-game performance. Brittany Schweiger took the loss for UAlbany after three and two thirds innings in relief, striking out four.

UAlbany (6-16) will return to action over the weekend, hosting Hartford in a three-game series to kick off America East Conference play.

-agate-

Game One

Siena                010       101       0          -           3          4          2

UAlbany            141       001       x          -           7          8          1

            Siena: Jessika Jo Sandrini, Darcy Gardner (3) and Natasha Powlowsky.

            UAlbany: Brittany MacFawn and Kylie Apostolina, Lindsey Strout

Game Two

Siena (10-13)     001       000       01         -           2          7          1

UAlbany (6-16)  100       000       00         -           1          2          1

            Siena: Amanda Filippazzo and Natasha Powlowsky.

            UAlbany: Allie Weiser, Brittany Schweiger (5) and Kylie Apostolina.

UAlbany 7, Siena 3 (Mar 31, 2011)

2011 UAlbany Softball
Siena at Albany (Game 1)
Mar 31, 2011 at Albany, N.Y. (Albany Field)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Siena............... 010 101 0 -  3  4  2
Albany.............. 141 001 X -  7  8  1
-----------------------------------------

Siena 2, UAlbany 1 (8 inn.) (Mar 31, 2011)

2011 UAlbany Softball
Siena at Albany (Game 2)
Mar 31, 2011 at Albany, N.Y. (Albany Field)

Score by Innings                   R  H  E
------------------------------------------
Siena............... 001 000 01 -  2  7  1
Albany.............. 100 000 00 -  1  2  1
------------------------------------------