LOCATION: UMaine Softball Complex - Orono, Maine
 
SHORT STORY: The Great Danes stayed calm and collected throughout seven innings to earn a shutout victory over fifth-seeded UMass Lowell for the America East Tournament title. Earning its first title since 2018, UAlbany went 3-0 in the tournament for the first time since 2011.
 
RECORDS: UAlbany 33-12, 14-6 America East | UMass Lowell 17-29, 8-11 America East
 
SCORE: #1 UAlbany 4, #5 UMass Lowell 0
 
KEY STATS

• Graduate student Morgan Petty led with three hits in three at bats.
• Driving in two runs each, sophomore Sara Anderson and freshman Mary Kate Murray each totaled a hit.
• Graduate student Maddi Petrella and redshirt-junior Victoria Vilarchao added a single each while senior Jordan Nastos hit a double.
• Graduate student Wendi Hammond pitched the complete-game shutout. Striking out six batters, she did not walk any and allowed just three hits.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The River Hawks started strong with two hits in the first inning.
• UAlbany answered with Morgan Petty's first single but she was left on base at the end of the inning.
• The Great Danes started the scoring with two consecutive hits from Jordan Nastos and Sara Anderson in the second inning.
• After Mary Kate Murray got on base with a walk, she advanced to third on a double from Nastos. 
• Anderson slammed the ball to center field to drive in freshman Kristina Langdon, pinch-running for Murray, and Nastos.
• After two scoreless innings, the Great Danes extended their lead in the fifth inning.
• Two outs on the board and Petty and Maddi Petrella hit back-to-back singles to put two runners on base.
• Victoria Vilarchao loaded the bases with an infield single.
• Murray sent the ball through the right side to drive in both Petty and Petrella and make it a 4-0 lead for the Great Danes.
• UMass Lowell answered their third, and final, hit of the contest in the sixth inning.
• Pitching just seven pitches in the top of the seventh, including a three-pitch strikeout, Wendi Hammond and the defense closed out the shutout victory for the champion title. 

 
ALL-TOURNAMENT

• Most Outstanding Player - Pitching 17 innings, two complete games, and 12 strikeouts, Wendi Hammond was named the MOP. The pitcher started all three tournament wins in the circle.
• All-Tournament Team - Joining Hammond on the All-Championship Team were Maddi Petrella, Morgan Petty, and Sara Anderson.
  • Petrella went 5-9 through three games in the batter's box. She totaled six RBI including three from one of two home runs hit in game one.
  • Petty was essential as a leader on and off the field. In the championship game alone, she earned the first Great Dane hit and continued with three total singles while adding two stolen bases and one run.
  • Totaling three hits, Anderson provided well-timed connections to drive in the first two runs of today's contest. A defender at heart, she led the team with 11 assists, including seven in the championship game.
• Elite-18 - The Elite-18 award is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing in the championship game of their respective sport. This year's award went to Caitlyn Mitros with a 3.96 GPA in her Master of Mental Health Counseling program.

 
NEXT: With the win, UAlbany has earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Tune in to the 2024 NCAA Selection Show on Sunday (May 12) at 7 pm on ESPN2 or join the Great Danes at Broadview Center for the Selection Show Watch Party.
 
For more information on the University at Albany softball team, follow the squad's official social media accounts shown below.
Twitter - @ualbanysb
Instagram & Threads - @ualbanysb