Softball Splits On Opening Day At FAU Invitational

BOX ONE  I  BOX TWO  I  SEASON STATS

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- On opening day at the Florida Atlantic Invitational, the University at Albany softball team split, rebounding from a 10-2 loss to North Florida to overcome Princeton 12-4. Both games ended prior to the seven-inning regulation, due to mercy rules.

In game one, North Florida jumped out to a 3-0 head start in the opening frame on Ashley Niesman's three-run home run with two outs.

However, the Great Danes answered back in the bottom of the second, as Elizabeth Snow and Marlin Solano led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Advancing on Mackenzie Cleary's sacrifice bunt, Alexa Toole knocked in Snow from third with a sac fly to center for the first run of the season.

Unfortunately, the middle of the order got hot again for the Ospreys in the top of the third, as they strung together four hits for four runs. Shortstop Kelly Wilson served as the spark, lining a leadoff double to left field. A walk set up Katie Madigo's and Niesman's back-to-back RBI singles. Abby Tewey traded an out for a run with her sac fly to left, and Lexi Taylor capped the frame with an RBI double to centerfield, making the score 7-1.

Sitting the Ospreys down in order in the fourth, UAlbany got back on the board on Snow's solo home run over the left field wall, cutting the deficit to five, 7-2.

However, that would be the Great Danes' final run of the contest, as North Florida rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth led by Nieman's two-run shot, marking her second home run and third hit of the morning. Alex Arciola's triple to right set up pinch hitter Alex Brunson's game-clinching sac fly to center that gave the Osprey's an eight-run advantage, 10-2.

Looking to extend the game, Toole and Jess Tate led off with consecutive singles, but the Osprey defense halted the rally, catching both stealing to close the contest.

Snow led UAlbany offensively, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Solano, Toole, and Tate each notched a hit.

Caitlin Cooper (0-1) took the loss in the circle, throwing all five frames, while recording three strikeouts. Kayla Goff (5-1) earned the win for North Florida, also hurling a complete game with three strikeouts.

It was different story for UAlbany's nightcap, as the Great Danes came out blistering against Princeton. Setting the tone quickly, UAlbany batted around the order to score six runs on three hits and four walks. Leadoff hitter Vicky McFarland lined a single through the right side and stole second before Kelly Costello and Maggie Cocks loaded the bases with a walk and hit by pitch, respectively. Marking her third straight hit of the day, Snow singled up the middle, plating two. With one out, Cleary's and Toole's back-to-back walks loaded the bases again and Lindsey Haskell came through with an RBI single up the middle. Still with three on, Kayla Bailey drew an RBI walk and McFarland capped the inning with a sac fly to center, giving the Great Danes a 6-0 lead over the Tigers. 

Princeton got one run back in the bottom of the first on Emily Viggers' two-out RBI single up the middle after a pair of walks put runners on. However, starting pitcher Mackenzie Thompson got out of the inning with minimal damage.

The Great Danes added to their total, scoring two run in the top of the second on Toole's two-run double to right-center that plated Solano and Cleary who reached on a walk and fielder's choice, respectively.

In the third, UAlbany took a 10-1 advantage, scoring two unearned runs, as McFarland and Costello crossed the plate using a pair of infield singles and a pair of fielder's choices.

The Tigers answered in the bottom of the third, stringing together a leadoff walk and five hits to score three runs.

However, the Great Dane pitching staff did not allow another hit the rest of the way, as Thompson threw a perfect fourth and fifth frame.

UAlbany tacked on two final runs to make the ending score of 12-4 in the sixth. McFarland, Cocks, and Jules Holbert sewed together three singles before freshman reliever Erynn Sobieski sat Princeton down in order in the bottom of the inning to clinch the season's first victory.

The Great Danes totaled 11 hits in the win, led by McFarland's 3-for-4 performance with an RBI and three runs scored. Cocks (2-for-3) and Snow (2-for-4) also had multi-hit efforts.

Thompson (1-0) earned the win, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing four runs and six hits, while striking out three.

Up next, UAlbany will play a split doubleheader against Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic on Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m.