Softball Splits On Day One Of Rebel Games

BOX ONE  I  BOX TWO 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Splitting Thursday's doubleheader at the Rebel Games, the University at Albany softball team came from behind to top Niagara, 7-6, in eight innings before falling to Bucknell, 8-3. With the split, the Great Danes now have a 6-5 overall record.

“I was disappointed in the way we played today,” said head coach Chris Cannata.  “We were lucky to end up with the split. We're not doing all the little things to help us win games that I know we are capable of doing.”

In game one, Niagara jumped out to a 3-0 head start in the bottom of the first, using a pair of singles, and a run-scoring wild pitch, fielder's choice, and a sac fly.

However, the Great Danes immediately tied it up in the top of the second, as Maggie Cocks led off with a single to left and Alexa Toole drew a walk, setting up Caitlin Cooper's RBI single through the left side. Jess Tate kept the rally going with an RBI single through the right side and Kayla Bailey brought in Cooper with a slap to short, tying the ballgame, 3-3.

UAlbany took a 5-3 advantage in the top of the third, sparked by Marlin Solano's two-out double to left. Cocks and Toole ripped back-to-back RBI singles to give the Danes a two-run lead.

However, Niagara answered in the bottom of the third with a run on Amanda Werth's RBI double to left center. The Purple Eagles added two runs in the fourth to take a 6-5 lead on Taylor Moddy's two-out, two-run scoring double to left center.

Down to their final out in the top of the seventh, the Great Danes survived, as Solano drew a walk and Cocks' single to right advanced pinch runner Jules Holbert to third. Holbert extended the game, scoring on a misplayed groundball at short, making the score, 7-7.

Reliever Devin Durando held Niagara off the board in the bottom of the seventh, setting up the international tiebreaker situation in the eighth. With Cooper at second, Jess Tate drew a walk, and Bailey singled to third to load the bases. A wild pitch brought in Cooper, marking the winning run and final run of the ballgame.

Durando sat the Purple Eagles down in order in the bottom of the eighth to pick up the win, improving her record to 3-0 on the season. Mackenzie Thompson tossed the opening 2.1 innings and was relieved by freshman Nicole Parks in the third.

Niagara starter Sydney Smyers took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) and 10 hits, while striking out seven in the complete game.

Offensively, the Great Danes totaled 10 hits in the contest led by Cocks' 3-for-4 effort with two runs and an RBI. Bailey also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run batted in.

With no rest between games, UAlbany took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Bucknell, loading the bases with one out. Toole drew a walk, Elizabeth Snow singled through the left side, and Solano was hit by a pitch, setting up Cocks' RBI fielder's choice to short.

However, the Bison responded with four runs in the third and three in the fourth for a 7-1 advantage. Bucknell strung together six singles across the frames.

The Great Danes fought back in the fifth, as Snow ripped a one-out double to left, Cocks singled through the left side, and Costello lined a two-run scoring double over the head of Bucknell's centerfielder, making the score, 7-3.

Bucknell tacked on an unearned run in the sixth, using an infield error and back-to-back singles with two outs.

With 12 hits as a squad, Costello went 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, followed by Snow's 3-for-4 performance.

In the circle, Erynn Sobieski (2-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs and seven his in four innings of work. Cooper tossed the last three innings, allowing a run and three hits, while striking out two.

Amanda Fazio earned the win for Bucknell, striking out 10 in the complete-game victory.

Up next at the Rebel Games, the Great Danes take on Creighton at 12:15 p.m. and Valparaiso at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.