Softball Sweeps Hartford For 2-0 Start In Conference Play
BOX ONE I BOX TWO
ALBANY, N.Y. – With the series shortened due to inclement weather on Friday, the University at Albany softball team made the most of the weekend, sweeping Saturday's doubleheader against Hartford to start 2-0 in America East Conference play. The Great Danes topped the Hawks 9-1 in six innings in the opener and 6-2 in game two, improving to 15-8 on the season.
“That was a good way to start out the conference season for us with two wins,” said head coach Chris Cannata. “We had good at bats throughout the lineup again, and scored or were threatening in almost every inning. We jumped out early in both games and both Devin and Celeste pitched well and made those runs stand.”
In game one, the reigning America East Pitcher of the Week, sophomore Devin Durando (9-3), held Hartford to just two hits and one unearned run, while striking out four.
Offensively, UAlbany racked up 11 hits and had all nine players reach base at least once. Senior Kelly Costello (2-for-3) and juniors Mackenzie Cleary (2-for-3) and Lindsey Haskell (2-for-2) led the way with two hits apiece.
The Great Danes took the lead for good in the top of the first on senior Maggie Cocks' sacrifice fly that plated Costello from third.
In the second, UAlbany took a 3-0 advantage. Freshman McKenzie Bump's bases loaded fielder's choice brought in sophomore Donna Conrad who reached on a walk, and Costello's sac fly plated freshman Sarah Petzold who got on with an infield single.
The Danes made it 6-0 in the third on a trio of runs as Haskell knocked in Cleary who reached on a single to right, and Conrad and Haskell crossed the plate on an errant throw from a pickoff attempt.
The Hawks got their lone run of the game in the bottom of the third on Danielle DeMarco's sacrifice fly that scored Kylie Dazalla from third.
From there, UAlbany added a run in the fifth as junior Liz Snow led off with a double and scored on Haskell's two-out single to centerfield.
In the sixth, Cocks lifted the Danes over the eight-run threshold with a two-out two-run home run.
In game two, UAlbany took control from the beginning again, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Bump led off the game with triple to right-center and scored on a fielding miscue at short. Cocks followed with a single through the left side and Costello and Cocks both crossed the plate on Cleary's two-run double down the left field line.
The Great Danes made it 4-0 in the second as Petzold led off with a double to left, advanced to third on Kayla Bailey's sac bunt, and scored on Bump's sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Cleary singled to center and scored an unearned run on Petzold's RBI fielder's choice to give UAlbany a 5-0 advantage.
Hartford broke onto the board in the bottom of the fifth, coupling a single and RBI double together.
The Hawks made the score 5-2 in the sixth, sandwiching a pair of singles around DeMarco's double.
However, the Danes got one run back in the seventh, loading the bases on Conrad's single down the left field line, Petzold's fielder's choice, and Bailey's single to third. Logging the RBI, Bump was hit by a pitch, bringing Conrad in for a 6-2 lead.
Freshman hurler Celeste Verdolivo (5-3) earned the win, allowing two runs and eight hits, while striking out two in seven innings.
Hartford's Bianca Ross (1-7) took the loss, allowing four earned runs and 13 hits, while striking out three.
Offensively, Cleary led UAlbany, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Cocks, Conrad, and Bailey contributed two hits each in the victory.
Up next, the Great Danes play at Colgate on Tuesday before their home opening weekend against conference foe UMass Lowell, April 2-3.
