Albany, N.Y. - Gina Mason recorded two home runs, going 5-for-6 with four RBI on the day to lead UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Hartford in America East Conference softball action on Saturday afternoon at Albany Field. The Great Danes took the first game, 7-0, and defeated the Hawks, 8-0, in five innings in the nightcap.

            In game one, UAlbany took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Andrianna Walraven singled through the right side, and proceeded to steal second, third and home to score the first run of the game. The Great Danes then tacked on two runs in the fourth, as Mason and Jess Bergin came home on an RBI-double by Melissa Herndon. UAlbany broke it open in the fifth, scoring four runs to set the final score. Mason drove a two-run homer over the outfield fence to also bring home Katie Wambold, who led off with a single, while an RBI-single by Stephanie Talerico later in the inning also brought home two runs.

            Brittany Schweiger earned the shutout win in the circle for the Great Danes, striking out 10 while allowing just one hit. Siera Sheehan took the loss for Hartford, issuing three walks and allowing 12 hits by the Great Danes, while striking out one opposing batter.

            The teams played two and a half scoreless innings before UAlbany scored three runs in the bottom of the third. Mason smashed her second two-run homer of the game to score Walraven, who reached on a single and then stole second. Herndon followed with her third RBI of the day, scoring Kylie Apostolina with a double into left. The Great Danes ended the game in five innings by way of the eight-run rule after scoring five in the bottom of the fifth frame. UAlbany loaded the bases and scored on a fielder's choice during Bergin's at-bat. Lauren Alcorn then singled to right for an RBI before Talerico drove a two-RBI single to end the game.

            Brittany MacFawn took the second shutout win of the day in the circle, allowing just one hit, striking out four. Kaitlyn Meade took the loss with seven earned runs and 13 hits, fanning one.

            UAlbany (8-16, AE 2-0) and Hartford (3-16, AE 0-5) will return to action tomorrow to wrap up the three-game series.

UAlbany 7, Hartford 0 (Apr 02, 2011)

2011 UAlbany Softball
Hartford at Albany (Game 1)
Apr 02, 2011 at Albany, N.Y. (Albany Field)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Hartford............ 000 000 0 -  0  1  3
Albany.............. 100 240 X -  7 12  0
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UAlbany 8, Hartford 0 (5 inn.) (Apr 02, 2011)

2011 UAlbany Softball
Hartford at Albany (Game 2)
Apr 02, 2011 at Albany, N.Y. (Albany Field)

Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
Hartford............ 000 00 -  0  1  1
Albany.............. 003 05 -  8 13  0
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