Softball To Open Home Slate With UConn Wednesday

ALBANY, N.Y. -- After a two-week hiatus due to weather cancellations, the University at Albany softball team is back in action Wednesday with its home-opener, hosting UConn at 3:30 p.m. at Albany Field.

SCOUTING UALBANY (12-7, 0-0 America East)
Head Coach: Chris Cannata (UAlbany '85), 21st season

THE COACH: Chris Cannata, a four-time America East Conference Coach of the Year and the winningest head coach in the UAlbany softball program, is in her 21st season at the helm. During her tenure at UAlbany, the Great Danes have compiled a 616-316-1 overall record, a 181-69-1 mark in America East play, a .662 winning percentage and have averaged over 30 wins per season. Cannata has also led the Great Danes to five NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as, five America East regular-season championships and five tournament titles since the program joined Division I in 2000. The club, which has won at least 30 games in the last 12 of 14 seasons, has never finished lower than fourth in the America East standings.

OVERVIEW: UAlbany comes off a 7-3 showing at the Rebel Games in Kissimmee and Winter Haven, Fla. On the season, the Great Danes are batting .294 as a team led by Vicky McFarland (.387), Maggie Cocks (.385, 13 RBIs) and Kayla Bailey (.385). Defensively, the pitching staff boasts a 4.57 collective ERA piloted by freshmen Devin Durando (6-1, 3.21 ERA) and Erynn Sobieski (4-2, 3.31 ERA).

COSTELLO, THOMPSON EARN WEEKLY HONORS
Junior infielder Kelly Costello and sophomore hurler Mackenzie Thompson were named the America East Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, announced by the conference office March 23rd.

Costello, a native of Windsor, N.Y., batted .500 on the final day of the Rebel Games in Winter Haven, Fla., leading the Great Danes to wins over St. Peter's and Wisconsin Green Bay. Against the Peacocks, Costello went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple and a run scored in the 8-0 rout. Costello also went 1-for-2 and scored a run in UAlbany's 2-1 victory over Green Bay.

Thompson, who hails from Eldersburg, Md., tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out three in UAlbany's mercy rule win over St. Peter's. Of her five innings in the circle, Thompson threw three perfect frames.

SCOUTING UCONN (10-20, 0-3 American Athletic)
Head Coach: Jen McIntyre (Penn State '98), 1st season

OVERVIEW: UConn enters Wednesday's non-conference clash with a 10-20 overall record, coming off three straight American Athletic Conference losses to UCF (1-2, 1-2, 1-6). Offensively, the Huskies are batting .235 as a squad led by Emily O'Donnell's .330 average, 19 RBIs, and 13 extra-base hits, followed by Alyssa Gardea (.275, 8 RBI) and Jacklyn Dubois (.271, 8 RBI). Defensively, the pitching staff owns a collective 6.39 ERA piloted by Lauren Duggan (6-9, 5.65 ERA) and Chelsea Eckert (2-7, 6.02 ERA).

UALBANY SELECTED SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL
With 31 total points and two first-place votes, UAlbany placed second behind Stony Brook in the America East Preseason Poll, announced by the conference office. The Seawolves, who won the regular season title in 2014, earned five first-place votes for a total of 34 points. Binghamton (28) was picked third, followed by Maine (21), UMBC (17), UMass Lowell (10), and Hartford (7).

2014 IN REVIEW: The 2014 season featured a historic run to the NCAA Regional in Eugene, Ore., as the Great Danes boasted a 34-13 overall record and 14-3 conference mark. Facing elimination in the America East Tournament with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Elizabeth Snow's three-run walk-off home run lifted UAlbany to a 3-2 victory over Stony Brook and forced a deciding game that the Danes went on to win, 8-1. With the triumph, UAlbany captured its fifth conference tournament title and advanced to its fifth NCAA tournament. Edged 1-0 by Wisconsin in the first game, UAlbany overcame Utah Valley, 4-3, for the program's third NCAA win in history. Snow was named America East Rookie of the Year, while Brittany MacFawn, Maggie Cocks, and Vicky McFarland picked up first-team honors, highlighting a cast of eight on the first and second squads.

ON DECK: UAlbany opens the America East Conference slate, travelling to Maine on April 3-4.

UALBANY SOFTBALL'S TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014
NCAA Regional Final: 2007
America East Conference Tournament Champions: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014
America East Conference Regular-Season Titles: 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013