Verdolivo Tosses Perfect Game, Cleary Blasts Walk-Off Grand Slam In Sweep Over UMass Lowell
BOX ONE I BOX TWO
ALBANY, N.Y. – With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, junior Mackenzie Cleary played hero, blasting a walk-off grand slam over the left field fence to lift the University at Albany softball team to an 8-0 win over UMass Lowell. The heroics secured freshman pitcher Celeste Verdolivo's perfect game, as well as a three-game conference sweep over the River Hawks.
In addition, the Great Danes won the first contest of the day, 5-1. With the sweep, UAlbany improved to 19-8 on the season and 5-0 in conference play, while UMass Lowell fell to 5-26 overall and 0-6 in the America East.
“I was really happy with the way we competed all day today,” said Head Coach Chris Cannata. “The weather was really tough to play in and they stayed focused and tried to do what we were asking of them every inning of both games.”
Striking out five in the six-inning gem, Verdolivo's (6-3) perfect game marked the first of her career and the first by a UAlbany player since Brittany McFawn tossed one, also as a freshman, on April 9, 2011 at Binghamton.
“It feels really good,” said Verdolivo. “I couldn't have done it without my team. They made a lot of good plays behind me.”
“Celeste had great stuff today in game two and pitched like a veteran in the circle,” said Cannata. “A perfect game for any pitcher is a rare occurrence, let alone for a freshman.”
UAlbany totaled six hits in the run-rule nightcap led by freshman McKenzie Bump and sophomore Donna Conrad's 2-for-3 efforts.
Scoring three runs in the bottom of the second, the Danes took the lead for good, as Conrad led off the frame with a double down the left field line and freshman Sarah Petzold walked, setting up a double steal that plated Conrad. Bump and senior Kelly Costello followed with a pair of two-out walks that led to senior Maggie Cocks' run-scoring fielder's choice and Liz Snow's RBI walk for a 3-0 advantage.
UAlbany added another run in the fourth when Bump led off with a single up the middle, stole second, and scored on a wild pitch.
Leading 4-0, the Great Danes doubled their output in the sixth sparked by Bump and Costello's consecutive singles to start the frame. With one out, Snow drew her third walk of the game, loading the bases for Cleary's game-winning blast.
Lowell's Lauren Ramirez (0-6) took the loss, allowing eight runs and six hits, while striking out three in 5.1 innings.
In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, sophomore Devin Durando (11-6) earned her 11th win of the season, holding the River Hawks to just one run and five hits, while striking out six.
Offensively, the Danes totaled eight hits as a squad highlighted by a pair of home runs by Conrad and Costello. Conrad, Cleary, and freshman Chelsea Henige each recorded two hits in the victory.
“Devin pitched much better today,” added Cannata. “And Donna and Kelly put us out in front to stay with their bats.”
In the bottom of the second, Cleary led off the inning with a single up the middle and Conrad gave UAlbany the lead for the rest of the way with a two-run dinger over the centerfield fence.
In the third, Costello followed suit with a solo homer, making the score 3-0.
UMass Lowell played copycat in the fifth as Tori Alcorn knocked a solo shot out of the park, but that would be all for the River Hawks.
The Great Danes added a pair of insurance runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, as Cleary, Conrad, and Henige strung together a trio of singles.
Kaysee Talcik (2-8) took the loss, allowing five runs and eight hits, while striking out four in six innings.
Up next for UAlbany, the Great Danes begin a 13-game road stretch at Bryant on Tuesday before returning to conference play at UMBC next weekend.
