Conrad, Snow Grand Slams Lift UAlbany To 9-7 Win Over Stony Brook
BOX SCORE I CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
VESTAL, N.Y. – Sophomore Donna Conrad and junior Liz Snow belted grand slams in the third and fourth innings, respectively, leading the University at Albany softball team to a 9-7 win over Stony Brook, knocking the Seawolves out of the America East Tournament Friday evening at Bearcats Sports Complex. With the victory, the Great Danes (33-17) advance to play Binghamton Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
“I can't really ever remember coaching in a game that we hit two grand slams in the same contest so those were huge hits that Donna and Liz got for us,” said Head Coach Chris Cannata. “I'm really proud of the way Coop battled all day long. We made some defensive mistakes behind her and she kept her composure and kept making good pitch after good pitch. It was an extremely emotional game for us and now we need to get some rest and get ready for tomorrow.”
Junior Caitlin Cooper (3-2) earned the win, holding Stony Brook to seven runs (five earned) and 13 hits, while striking out one.
Offensively, the Great Danes totaled 10 hits led by Snow's 3-for-4 performance with five runs batted in and two runs scored. Seniors Kelly Costello and Maggie Cocks each went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs.
Stony Brook strung a pair of hits in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
However, in the top of the third, Costello, Cocks, and Snow knocked three straight singles, setting up Conrad's bomb over the right-centerfield wall that gave UAlbany a 4-1 advantage.
In the bottom half of the frame, the Seawolves linked three singles together to cut the margin to two, 4-2, on Diane Caruso's RBI liner.
Like deja vu, UAlbany loaded the bases in the fourth on junior Kayla Bailey's infield single and walks by freshman McKenzie Bump and Cocks. With one out, Snow let it fly over the left field wall, giving the Danes an 8-2 lead. With the homer, Snow broke UAlbany's single-season RBIs record, now with 54 on the year.
Stony Brook added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Great Danes answered with one in the fifth on Snow's RBI double that plated Costello from second for a 9-4 lead.
Threatening, the Seawolves scored a run in the bottom of the fifth on Ileana Torres' RBI double and two in the seventh on Lexie Shue's two-run single to the centerfield gap.
However, composed under pressure, Cooper forced the final three outs to secure the victory and keep the Great Danes' season alive.
With expected inclement weather on Saturday, follow @UAlbanySoftball on Twitter for game time changes or check America East Championship Central.
