Softball Wins Fourth Straight At Rebel Games, Topping St. Peter's, Green Bay
ST. PETER'S BOX I GREEN BAY BOX
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The University at Albany softball team swept Monday's doubleheader, overcoming St. Peter's, 9-1 in five innings, and Wisconsin Green Bay, 3-2. The wins extended the Great Danes' winning streak to four games, while improving their record to 10-7 overall.
“I'm happy to see the team competing more the way we knew they could,” said head coach Chris Cannata. “We're moving in the right direction, defensively. The pitchers are working ahead of the hitters and are getting us out of jams. The defense is also doing a good job of backing the pitchers up and helping them get out of trouble.”
In game one, St. Peter's took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Lee Harrison led off with a first-pitch double to left field and scored on UAlbany's turned double play.
However, that would be the Peacocks' final run of the game, as freshman hurler Erynn Sobieski followed with four shutout frames.
The Great Danes took the lead for good in the bottom of the first, sparked by Vicky McFarland's leadoff single up the middle. With one out, junior Maggie Cocks tied the score with a sacrifice fly to right, and senior Marlin Solano kept the rally going with a single to left. Advancing on a fielding error and a stolen base, Solano crossed the plate on Kelly Costello's RBI single to right, giving UAlbany a 2-1 advantage.
In the second, the Danes took a 5-1 lead, as Lindsey Haskell and Kayla Bailey knocked back-to-back infield singles. Moving up on McFarland's sac bunt, Haskell scored on Alexa Toole's fielder's choice and Solano brought in two with her single to right.
After Costello's web gem at second saved a run in the top of the third, the Great Danes tacked on four runs in the fourth for an eight-run margin, 9-1. UAlbany took advantage of two hit by pitches, a walk, and a pair of infield errors that set up Samantha Broking's game-capping two-run single down the left field line.
In the bottom of the fifth, St. Peter's looked to rally with a single to left, but Cocks' defensive play at short resulted in two outs. Sobieski (3-2) clinched the victory with a strikeout to pick up her third win of the season. In the game, she allowed one run and five hits, while striking out two.
Offensively, the Great Danes totaled seven hits led by Solano's 2-for-2 effort with two runs and two RBIs.
In game two, freshman Devin Durando (6-1) earned her sixth win of the season, dueling Green Bay hurler Briana Cava through seven innings. Durando held the Phoenix scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when Alyssa Johnson and Allie Hislope knocked back-to-back home runs. However, Durando halted the rally and preserved the win.
UAlbany broke onto the board in the top of the third as Cocks lined a two-out single through the right side, bringing in McFarland from third.
In the sixth, the Danes made it 2-0, sparked by Cocks' leadoff double down the left field line. With one out, Elizabeth Snow's check-swing grounder back to the pitcher brought in Cocks from third for the Danes's second run of the game.
UAlbany added an unearned run in the top of the seventh, as Caitlin Cooper reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on Bailey's single, and scored on a throwing error.
The Great Danes totaled nine hits in the win, led by Cocks and Bailey who both went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Durando struck out five and scattered just five hits in the complete-game victory, while Cavin took the loss, striking out three in seven frames.
UAlbany wraps up its stay at the Rebel Games on Tuesday with a rematch against both the Peacocks (10 a.m.) and the Pheonix (2:30 p.m.).
