This Week in UAlbany Athletics: March 23

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany athletic programs return home for an action-packed week, featuring women's lacrosse, softball, and baseball. 

Tuesday, March 24

The Great Danes enter Tuesday’s contest with a strong 7-2 overall record and a perfect 2-0 mark in America East play. They are currently riding a four-game winning streak, most recently dominating UMass Lowell 19-10 behind a nine-point performance from Ravan Marsell, off a career high seven assists and two goals. UAlbany has been perfect at home this season (4-0) and will look to use that John Fallon Field advantage against a top-tier opponent. Syracuse arrives in Albany ranked No. 5 nationally and is currently one of the hottest teams in the country with a seven-game winning streak. The Orange hold a 7-3 record and are coming off three consecutive one-goal victories against top-20 opponents Northwestern, Yale, and Virginia.

Syracuse leads the all-time series 18-0, having won every meeting since the programs first met in 1998. The last matchup took place on February 7, 2025, where the Orange secured a 21-9 victory in their season opener.

UAlbany opens its home schedule after securing an America East series win at NJIT, with offensive production from Michael Maggio, Cooper Loyal, and Levi McAllister. The Great Danes have also seen strong outings on the mound, highlighted by Matthew Mariano out of the bullpen.

UMass brings a power-heavy lineup led by Anthony Tirado and Will Briggs.

The Minutemen lead the all-time series, 6-3, and have won the last two meetings.

Wednesday, March 25

The UAlbany softball team enters the week 9-10 overall. In their most recent non-conference games, the Great Danes swept Mount St. Mary's in a four-game weekend road series. Two freshman lead the team from the batter's box - Julia Pike holds a team-high .405 batting average while Katie Parisi leads with 25 hits, including 11 doubles, 1 triple, and two home runs, in 19 games. Both are third in the America East in their respective stats. Junior Mary Kate Murray, the Great Danes' clean up, leads with four home runs and 18 RBI. In the circle, sophomore Hayley Wieczerzak leads with a 1.29 ERA in 43.1 innings. She has thrown for 52 strikeouts and 16 walks.

Le Moyne comes in with a 5-18 record having won games against Lafayette, New Haven, and Morehead State. Maddie Martin leads all Dolphins with a .345 batting average on 20 hits. Sydney Nesci is tied with Martin with 20 hits, including five doubles and two home runs. Kayla Dunkerley is also hitting over .300. In the circle, Isabella Kwashek leads with a 4.05 ERA in 55.1 innings, including two complete games. 

Friday, March 27

UAlbany begins a three-game America East series looking to carry momentum from its opening conference weekend, with contributions throughout the lineup and steady pitching performances. The Great Danes will look to continue establishing consistency on both sides of the ball.

UMBC enters with a balanced offense led by Ehi Okojie and has been competitive early in conference play.

The Retrievers lead the all-time series, 9-3, but UAlbany has won the last three meetings.

Saturday, March 28

UAlbany enters the weekend looking to strengthen their position at the top of the America East standings. Binghamton arrives in Albany with a 4-6 overall record (1-1 AE) but carries the momentum of a thrilling 12-11 overtime victory against New Hampshire. 

UAlbany dominates the all-time series 26-1, most recently defeating the Bearcats 19-9 on April 26, 2025. However, the rivalry reached a fever pitch in 2024 when Binghamton snapped a 25-game losing streak to the Great Danes by defeating them 12-11 at John Fallon Field to claim their first-ever America East Championship.

UAlbany continues its weekend set with an offense that has shown depth across the lineup and a pitching staff that has delivered key innings in multiple roles. The Great Danes aim to build on their early conference success.

The Great Danes started conference season at Bryant and split the weekend 1-2 against the 2025 tournament runner-up. Freshman Katie Parisi led the weekend with five hits, including one double and one home run, in 10 at bats and five RBI. Juniors Mary Kate Murray and Taylor Quinn added three hits, and two RBI, each for a .333 batting average. Murray tallied one triple and one home run while Quinn hit her first home run of the season. Quinn led the team with four RBI.

UMass Lowell enters the week with a 12-13 record, including a three-game sweep over Maine to start the conference season. Elizabeth Neld leads with the only team batting average over .300 (.323) and 13 runs. Julia Rowley is second hitting .295 with a team-high 23 hits, including five doubles, one triple, and two home runs. In the circle, Olivia DeCitise leads with a 2.86 ERA in 78.1 innings, including seven complete games. She has pitched for 86 strikeouts and 25 walks.

Sunday, March 29

After the Saturday doubleheader, the Great Danes will wrap up the week and the conference series against UMass Lowell on Sunday. Throughout their first conference series at Bryant, UAlbany saw three different pitchers start a game - freshman Julia Pike, sophomore Hailey Errichiello, and freshman Becca Munslow. Pike pitched a complete-game victory, her first of the season, with an opposing batting average of .296. Errichiello saw the most action on the weekend with 9.1 innings, including one complete game. She allowed just five earned runs throughout her two appearances. 

In UMass Lowell's first weekend of league play, Isabel Quintanilla led with a .571 batting average. Ella Van Alstyne and Caroline Calkins also hit at/ over .500 with a team-high four RBI each. Van Alstyne tallied a team-high six hits while Calkins led with two doubles. In the circle, four pitchers saw an appearance with two gaining a game start. Olivia DeCitise was the most effective with two starts, three appearances, for 13.0 innings, a 2.69 ERA, and 16 strikeouts. Gianna LaCedra also earned a start and a win. 

UAlbany closes out the weekend series looking to maintain momentum in America East play, backed by veteran leadership and continued development on the mound. The Great Danes will look to finish the week strong at home.

Monday, March 30

UAlbany faces its second top-20 opponent of the week as they aim to prove their mettle against the elite of the ACC. Boston College comes into this week ranked No. 15 nationally, currently looking to bounce back after a challenging stretch in conference play. they are set to face Stanford in Chestnut Hill before Mondays contest.

Boston College leads the all-time series 6-2 and has won the last four meetings. The programs last met on March 12, 2025, at John Fallon Field, where the then-top-ranked Eagles secured a 20-4 victory.

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