March 26, 2010

Siena softball dropped its first two games of the Coastal Carolina Invitational in Conway, S.C. The Saints fell to Kent State 9-6 and Longwood 6-0.

Siena (2-16) trailed 6-0 after three against Kent State (9-11) before mounting a comeback. The Saints scored a run in the third and two more in the fourth, but trailed 9-3 going into their last at-bat.

Siena scored three times in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run come to the plate with just one out, but consecutive strikeouts ended the rally and the game. Nonetheless, the Saints offense broke out for a season-high in both runs scored (six) and hits (12).

In an exciting, high scoring affair, both teams had their chances to tack on even more runs as the Golden Flashes put 19 runners on base, but stranded 10 of them while the Saints left eight.

Lauren Weingart had a season-high three hits and drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, while Courtney Mahan, Sara Gallacchi and freshmen Amanda Ferro and Shannon Jones each recorded two hits apiece. Mahan also drove in a pair of runs, while Gallacchi and Ferro each scored twice.

In the nightcap, Longwood (21-8) limited the Saints to just two hits in picking up the shutout. Jones, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, tallied both hits for Siena and finished the day 4-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI.

Amanda Filippazzo allowed just two earned runs in suffering the defeat, while Brittany Spencer spun the complete game, two-hit, four strikeout shutout for the Lancers in earning the win.

Siena returns to action for the middle day of the three-day Invitational Saturday with games against fellow Empire State foe St. John's (4:45 p.m.) and tournament host Coastal Carolina (7 p.m.).