Poughkeepsie, N.Y. ? Marissa Powell was credited with two victories in the circle and Michelle Connors had a game-winning hit and a game-winning run as UAlbany swept a non-conference softball doubleheader against Marist by scores of 6-5 and 2-1 at the Softball Park at Gartland Athletic Field on Tuesday, March 31. The Great Danes improved to 4-0 against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schools this spring with the wins.

            In game one, UAlbany scored a run in the first and third innings to take an early 2-0 advantage. Andrianna Walraven came home for the first run on a wild pitch, and Meagan Butsch singled through the left side with runners on first and second to plate Kristine Bill.

            Marist (9-17) rallied to take a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth frame. Megan Lamoureux started the rally by hitting a solo shot to left in the third before four more runs came across one inning later. The first two in the fourth came home on infield errors by the Great Danes, and Melissa Giordano, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, homered to right to give the Red Foxes a three-run advantage.

            UAlbany answered right back by plating four runs of its own over the next two innings. Gina Mason singled with the bases loaded to plate Walraven, and Jess Bergin doubled in Butsch and Bill with a blast to left center. An RBI-double with two outs by Connors in the sixth would stand as the game-winning hit.

            UAlbany's Powell improved to 5-7 on the season at the time with the victory. She struck out five batters while surrendering five hits and five runs. Only two of the five runs were earned. Leah McIntosh relieved Powell in the sixth inning. The junior allowed a single while recording five strikeouts to earn her first save of the season and second of her career.

Marist's Caitlin Schell got the nod to start, giving up five hits and five runs which were earned. She fanned five batters. Caitlin Carpentier was credited with the loss in relief and fell to 5-8 overall. She gave up five hits and one run which was unearned while striking out six.

In game two, the Great Danes once again plated a run in the top of the first inning to take an early lead. After Bill made it all the way to second base on a fielder's choice play in which Walraven was caught in a rundown between second and third, Butsch reached on an infield error to score Bill.

UAlbany doubled its advantage in the top of the fourth. Connors led off with a double, and scored two batters later when Mason reached first on another infield error. The Great Danes loaded the bases with one out, but Carpentier was able to prevent any further damage by retiring the next two batters to end the frame.

Marist fought back in the next half inning to cut the UAlbany lead in half when Jessica Green hit an RBI-single to left with nobody out. After the Red Foxes loaded the bases, Powell got out of the jam by fanning Lindsey Kinel and forcing Lindsay Durant to ground out. The Great Danes held on the rest of the way to post their second one-run victory of the day.

UAlbany's Powell was credited with her fourth straight victory and improved to 6-7 in the circle this season. She struck out five batters while allowing five hits, two walks and one run which was earned. Marist's Carpentier was credited with her second loss of the afternoon, which dropped her record to 5-9. She recorded nine strikeouts, and gave up three hits and one walk. Only one of the two runs she surrendered was earned.

UAlbany (16-8), which won 10 of its 12 games in the month of March, will stay on the road to play a twinbill against Iona on Wednesday, April 1. The first pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.

-agate-

            UAlbany                                    101       031       0          6          10         2

            Marist                                       001       400       0          5          6          1

UAlbany: Marissa Powell, Leah McIntosh (6) and Kat Smith.

Marist: Caitlin Schell, Caitlin Carpentier (5) and Nicole DiVirgilio.

            UAlbany (16-8)                           100       100       0          2          3          1                                             

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Albany.............. 101 031 0 -  6 10  2
Marist.............. 001 400 0 -  5  6  1
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Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Albany.............. 100 100 0 -  2  3  1
Marist.............. 000 100 0 -  1  5  2
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