Softball Opens America East Tournament With 7-1 Win Over Hartford
BOX SCORE I CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
VESTAL, N.Y. – With a balanced offensive and defensive effort, the No. 3 seeded University at Albany softball team opened the America East Conference Tournament with a 7-1 victory over No. 6 Hartford (6-44) Wednesday afternoon at Bearcats Sports Complex. With the win, the Great Danes improved to 32-16 on the season and will now play No. 2 Maine at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Sophomore Devin Durando (16-8) tossed a gem, holding the Hawks to just a run and three hits, while striking out five in the complete game. Durando had a no-hitter going until the top of the sixth inning.
Offensively, UAlbany totaled 12 hits led by sophomore Donna Conrad who went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in. The Danes' top three batters in the lineup paced the squad, as freshman McKenzie Bump, senior Kelly Costello, and senior Maggie Cocks each had two hits in the win.
“Well, it was good to get that first game under our belt. We have a lot kids in the lineup that have never really played in a championship before,” said Head Coach Chris Cannata. “Today was a good game for us to get the nerves out and hopefully now we are ready to go. It's a long week here and the team that stays the most composed and focused is usually the team that wins.”
UAlbany quickly got on the board in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on four hits. Bump and Costello led off with back-to-back singles and Cocks followed with an RBI double to centerfield. Junior Liz Snow made it 2-0 with her sacrifice fly to center, and Conrad capped the frame with a single to the same outfield location.
In the fifth, Conrad recorded her second RBI single of the game, bringing in Cocks for a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Hartford's Kylie Dazalla drew a leadoff walk, and Danielle DeMarco played spoiler, lining a double to the left-centerfield gap to break up Durando's no-hitter and shutout.
However, UAlbany's bats stayed hot through the sixth, as the Great Danes strung together four more hits for three additional runs. After senior Lindsey Haskell led off the frame with a hard hit single to center, freshman Sarah Petzold singled to left, and Bump knocked home pinch runner Kayla Bailey. Costello's groundout scored Petzold, and Cocks' drove in Costello with her second double of the day.
Bianca Ross (4-16) took the loss, allowing seven runs and 12 hits, pitching the complete game for Hartford.
