Albany, N.Y. ? Senior third baseman Meagan Butsch hit a two-run homer in game one and junior pitcher Marissa Powell picked up two wins in the circle to lead UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Manhattan in non-conference softball action at Albany Field on Tuesday, April 14. The Great Danes won game one, 2-1, and game two by a 3-0 score. With the victories, the squad improved their record to 8-0 this season against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents.

            In game one, Butsch clubbed her fifth home run of the season and 20th of her career to move up to second on the program's all-time list after Michelle Connors doubled to right center. The bomb gave the Great Danes all the insurance they would need for the victory. Manhattan (8-22) attempted to rally by plating one run on a wild pitch by Powell in the second, but the junior recovered by retiring the next 16 batters she faced to close out the game.

            UAlbany's Powell improved to 9-9 at the time with the victory. She allowed two hits and matched a career high by fanning 11 batters. Manhattan's Ashley Rampino fell to 6-7 in the losing effort. She surrendered five hits, two earned runs and one walk while striking out three in four innings of work. Melissa Donnelly made a relief appearance, and allowed one hit and two walks.

            The Great Danes took advantage of three Jasper errors to plate all of their runs in the second game. After the first out was recorded in the third inning, Andrianna Walraven doubled down the left field line and advanced to third base on an error when the ball was thrown back in by Monica Evangelista and misplayed by Nicole Michel at short. Nicole Kothe singled in the sophomore on the next play before Erika Sullivan got out of the inning by inducing two outs in the infield.

            UAlbany stayed aggressive on the basepaths to score two more times in the fourth. Gina Mason reached on an error and Katie Wambold singled to left to get things going. After the duo advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, Diane MacDowell slapped an infield hit in front of the catcher to start a crazy chain of events.

MacDowell made it to first safely, and Mason came home for a run after the ball left the catcher's hand. MacDowell then found herself caught in a rundown between first and second. As she attempted to go to second, the ball was thrown high and made its way to the outfield. Wambold came home to score the third run, and MacDowell ended up at third base. Once Sullivan got out of any further trouble, McIntosh entered the game for the final three innings in the circle to finish the sweep.

UAlbany's Powell improved to 10-9 this season with the win. She struck out eight and only allowed one hit in four innings. McIntosh earned her second save of the season for pitching the final three frames. She recorded seven strikeouts and allowed only one hit. The duo did not induce any walks.

Manhattan's Sullivan was tagged with the loss, dropping her record to 0-8 this year. She gave up four hits and three runs which were all unearned. Rampino pitched two scoreless frames to close out the game. She surrendered only one hit and struck out three.

UAlbany (23-10) visits Vermont tomorrow for an America East Conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

-agate-

            Manhattan                                 010       000       0          1          2          0

            UAlbany                                    200       000       x          2          6          0

                        Manhattan: Ashley Rampino, Melissa Donnelly (5) and Amanda Genovese.

                        UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.

            Manhattan (8-22)                        000       000       0          0          2          3

            UAlbany (23-10)                         001       200       x          3          5          1

                        Manhattan: Erika Sullivan, Ashley Rampino (5) and Carla Velasquez.

                        UAlbany: Marissa Powell, Leah McIntosh (5) and Kat Smith, Liz Noto (6).

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Manhattan........... 010 000 0 -  1  2  0
Albany.............. 200 000 X -  2  6  0
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Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Manhattan........... 000 000 0 -  0  2  3
Albany.............. 001 200 X -  3  5  1
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