Fairfax, Va. - The Great Danes defeated Monmouth in the early game, 3-1, before falling to Howard, 8-1, in the nightcap of George Mason's Cherry Blossom Classic.
In game one, UAlbany scored two runs in the second to take an early lead. After two quick outs, Kristine Bill drove a triple to right centerfield and came home on an error by the Monmouth third baseman. Kylie Apostolina, who reached on the error that scored Bill, made it home later in the inning when Hawks pitcher Lauren Sulick issued a bases-loaded walk to Andrianna Walraven.
The Great Danes tacked on an additional run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single up the middle by Bill that scored Lauren Alcorn, who reached on a double. Monmouth avoided the shutout in the fourth on a Kate Kuzma home run that sailed out to left centerfield.
Brittany Schweiger started the game for UAlbany in the circle, fanning eight in six inning of work. Allie Weiser came into the game in the final inning to earn the save for the Great Danes. Sulick tossed a complete game for the Hawks, striking out three.
In the Great Danes' second game of the day, Howard scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead, and added three in the second in response to one run posted by UAlbany in the bottom of the first. The Great Danes tallied a single run in the bottom of the first on a base hit by Jess Bergin that scored Diane MacDowell, who reached on a single.
Howard scored another three runs in the second, on a two-RBI double by Kirshner which scored Lorae Robinson and Christine Sborz. Trina Kindred scored the other Howard run of the inning, scoring on a UAlbany fielding error. The Bisons added three runs in the top of the seventh, as Kindred sent two runs home on a single through the left side, after Rebecca Kirshner knocked a single through the left side to send one run home.
Samantha Gatson earned the win for Howard (5-13) with four innings pitched and six strikeouts. Brittany MacFawn took the loss with six and two thirds innings of action, fanning six. Emily Johnson earned the save, tossing the final three innings for the Bison with no runs scored.
UAlbany (3-9) will return to action on Sunday, finishing up the Cherry Blossom Classic with a match-up against Monmouth at 10 a.m.
