Softball Picks Up 5-1 Win At Colgate
BOX SCORE
HAMILTON, N.Y. – Recording 10 hits as a squad, the University at Albany softball team earned a 5-1 win on the road over Colgate Wednesday afternoon at Eaton Street Field. With the non-conference triumph, the Great Danes improved to 16-8 on the season, while the Raiders fell to 3-15 overall.
“That was a pretty well-played game by both teams,” said Head Coach Chris Cannata. “We started out slow hitting, but the second time through the lineup we got much better swings and we were able to knock two of their pitchers out of the game.”
Sophomore Donna Conrad led the team, going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while junior Liz Snow (2-for-4), junior Mackenzie Cleary (2-for-3), and freshman Sarah Petzold (2-for-4) also contributed multi-hit efforts.
In the circle, sophomore Devin Durando (10-3) earned the win, allowing no runs and three hits, while striking out five in four innings of work. Freshman Celeste Verdolivo tossed the final three frames, holding Colgate to just a single hit that happened to be a solo home run, while striking out three.
For the Raiders, Brigit Ieuter (2-7) took the loss, allowing three runs and five hits in 3.2 innings.
The bats were quiet for both sides through three until the Great Danes took the lead for good in the top of the fourth. Snow broke the scoreless stalemate with a two-out solo home run over the centerfield fence, sparking life at the plate. Cleary and Conrad followed with back-to-back singles, and junior Lindsey Haskell walked to load the bases for Petzold. The freshman came through with a two-run single to left, giving UAlbany a 3-0 lead.
In the fifth, the Danes added two more runs after again loading the bases. With one out, seniors Kelly Costello and Maggie Cocks drew consecutive walks and Snow singled through the left side. Cleary's sacrifice fly to center brought in one, and Conrad's RBI single up the middle gave UAlbany a 5-0 advantage.
Colgate's Meghan Romero put the Raiders on the board with a solo shot over the centerfield fence with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but that would be all for the hosts. Verdolivo sat the next six batters down in order to secure UAlbany's win.
“Devin and Celeste combined to keep a good-hitting Colgate team to just four hits,” added Cannata. “It was a good tune-up for us going into this conference weekend.“
Up next, UAlbany opens its home schedule, hosting conference foe UMass Lowell for a three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., while Sunday's single game is slated for noon.
