Siena Softball split a pair of contests at the Madeira Beach Invitational II in Madeira Beach, Florida to begin its 2019 campaign Friday evening. The Saints surged to a 10-2 victory over Cornell in their season opener before falling to Drexel, 10-3, in the two teams' first-ever matchup.

Competing in the Sunshine State-based tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons to open the year, Siena (1-1) came out of the gate firing on all cylinders to take an early lead against the Big Red. Fresh off a MAAC All-Rookie Team nod in 2018, sophomore Isabelle DeChiaro advanced to third on an error in the top of the second, allowing junior Lauren Sabihon to plate the first run of the year.

DeChiaro would then score on a passed ball to begin a three-run frame for Siena in the fourth inning, with an Amanda Dodson double plating Patricia Kalesse and Jess Vollmer scoring on an RBI groundout. Kalesse broke open the game for the Saints in the fifth with a three-run bomb to centerfield, driving in DeChiaro and Sabihon, while Neysa Ouellette and Kelly Rasulo extended the lead to 9-0 by way of an error. Cornell used the bottom half of the frame to extend the contest with a pair of runs, but DeChiaro made the decision final after six innings, putting Siena ahead by eight off a sacrifice fly from Jessika Jaime.

Junior right-hander Maddie McMahon (1-0) reached a career milestone while picking up the win in five innings in the circle, allowing just a pair of runs on four hits. McMahon struck out six batters and walked one, becoming the just the seventh pitcher in program history to surpass the 200-strikeout mark. Freshman Sarah Dowalo make her collegiate debut in the sixth, striking out a batter in the game's final inning.

The Saints then took for the field against Drexel in the first of eight new opponents in their schedule this season. After the Dragons put a run on the board in the top of the first, Cossack doubled into right field to send home the tying run in Jazmin Ortiz. Siena then took a 3-1 lead in the home half of the third inning as freshman Sabrina Vargas was brought home on an RBI single and Cossack stole home. Drexel would then score nine unanswered runs beginning in the top of the fifth on an RBI single that drove in two to knot the game at three.

Drexel's Megan Trivelpiece then smacked an RBI triple later in the inning to give the Dragons a lead that they would never relinquish. A pair of RBI singles, a wild pitch and a three-run homer in the top of the seventh extended the opposition's lead to its 10-3 final. Drexel sophomore Brooklyn Daly picked up the win in four innings on the mound, while junior starter Brooke Hughes (0-1) took the loss in five innings, walking five and striking out a pair. Dowalo came on to relieve for the game's final two innings, earning a pair of K's and issuing three free passes.

Siena continues play at in Madeira Beach Saturday, with a pair of contests in the Sunshine State. The Saints face 2018 NCAA Tournament Participant Middle Tennessee State at 11 AM, before taking on Detroit Mercy at 1:30 PM.