LOCATION: ROC Park - Madeira Beach, Florida
 
SHORT STORY: Freshman Julia Pike hit her first career home run as the Great Danes split the second day of action in Florida, Saturday.
 
GAME ONE
 
RECORDS: UAlbany 1-6, 0-0 America East | Illinois State 4-7, 0-0 America East
 
SCORE: Illinois State 6, UAlbany 0
 
KEY STATS

• Senior Kasey Conn led the team with two hits, including one double.
• Freshman Katie Parisi and junior Mary Kate Murray added one hit each.
• Sophomore Hailey Errichiello pitched a complete game with three strikeouts in six innings.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Illinois State got the hitting started in the bottom of the first with two consecutive - a double and a single.
• Mary Kate Murray answered with a single to center field in the top of the second.
• After four scoreless innings, the Great Danes came close to scoring but left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth.
• The Redbirds put one on base with a single before hitting a home run for a 2-0 lead through five.
• ISU added four hits, including two doubles and a home run, and four runs in the bottom of the sixth.
• Kasey Conn doubled in the top of the seventh but UAlbany was unable to take advantage and the Redbirds secured the 6-0 win.

 
GAME TWO
 
RECORDS: UAlbany 2-6, 0-0 America East | Bowling Green 9-4, 0-0 MAC
 
SCORE: UAlbany 8, Bowling Green 2
 
KEY STATS

• Four Great Danes tallied two hits each - freshman Julia Pike, Katie Parisi, Mary Kate Murray, and senior Deanna Grahek.
• Seniors Sara Andersona and Kasey Conn led with two RBI each.
• Both of Parisi's hits were doubles while Pike hit her first collegiate home run.
• Pike earned the win in the circle with three hits allowed in five innings. Sophomore Hayley Wieczerzak finished the game with three strikeouts in two innings.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Julia Pike started the game by striking out the first batter. She followed it up with a home run on the very pitch in the bottom of the first.
• UAlbany added two more runs in the first from a Sara Anderson sacrifice fly and an RBI double from sophomore Vanessa Meyers.
• In the bottom of the third, the Great Danes compiled four consecutive hits and scored two runs to take a 5-0 lead. 
• With two outs on the board, Kasey Conn hit a single into right center for two RBI to extend UAlbany's advantage to seven after three complete innings.
• BGSU hit a home run in the top of the fifth for what proved to be its only two runs.
• Drawing a walk to get on base, Hayley Wieczerzak scored the eighth Great Dane run to give Mary Kate Murray an RBI.
• Bowling Green put two on base in the top of the seventh but a final out by first baseman, redshirt-junior Natasha Mendez, secured the six-run win for UAlbany.

 
NEXT: The Great Danes will return to ROC Park for a final game on Sunday (Mar. 1).
 
Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany softball by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.