UAlbany Softball Sweeps Hartford On Apostolina's Walk-Off Double
Photo: Kylie Apostolina (above) hit a walk-off double to give UAlbany a sweep over Hartford on Saturday, March 30.
UPDATED STATS
ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany softball team swept their first conference series of 2013 in walk-off fashion. UAlbany defeated the University of Hartford on Saturday, March 30, 2-1. The victory was sealed off the bat of senior Kylie Apostolina who hit an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh. It was the Great Dane's third victory over the Hawks in two days.
Junior Brittany MacFawn pitched her second game in three days for UAlbany (15-7, 3-0 AE). Coming off a no-hitter yesterday, the right-handed hurler pitched her 13th complete game of the season. She improved to 8-5. MacFawn went seven innings, allowing one hit and a earned run while striking out nine.
The game opened with Hawk sophomore Kate Wacyk hitting a homer to left field in the top of the first. It was evened, 1-1, by the Great Danes in the bottom half as sophomore Vicky McFarland drew a walk, stole second then scored on a wild pitch.
Neither team would score for the next five innings. Hartford's Zuzana Kudernatschov, a junior, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Going into the last frame, the two pitchers combined to allow just a single hit and two walks.
Designated hitter Marlin Solano led things off in the seventh. She broke the no-hit bid with a double to left centerfield. Freshman Annie Johnson replaced her as a pinch-runner with Apostolina stepping to the plate just two batters later. The catcher rocketed a double to the right centerfield gap, allowing Johnson to round the bases and score the game-winning run.
Kudernatschov was charged with the loss for Hartford (8-20, 3-4 AE). She is now 5-9 this season.
“It was a tough pitching match-up today,” said coach Chris Canatta. “We were trying to manufacture a run anyway we could for Brittany [MacFawn]. Both Marlin [Solano] and Kylie [Apostolina] stepped up in the clutch. This was a big win for us.”
UAlbany will be back in action on Tuesday, March 29. They host Colgate University in a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Albany Field.
