LOUDONVILLE, NY – Pitching progressively improved throughout the afternoon, as Siena Softball opened up its 2019 home slate by splitting a doubleheader with Army West Point at the Siena Softball Field Thursday afternoon. The Saints fell, 3-1, in game one, before snapping their eight-game losing skid with a 1-0 shutout victory over the Black Nights to finish the day.
GAME ONE – Army West Point 3, Siena 1
Taking the field after wavering conditions pushed back the Saints' home opener one day, The teams battled neck-and-neck through the opening three innings, with Siena stranding four Black Knight batters during that time and leaving one on themselves in the bottom of the second. The visitors struck first wait a pair of runs in the top of the fourth off back-to-back RBI singles to either side of the field. After leaving to more Army batters on base, the Saints put a pair on with no outs, leading to a sacrifice fly to left from junior
Lauren Sabihon that allowed pinch runner
Jess Vollmer to score and cut the deficit to one.
Following a swift fifth inning, the Black Knights plated an insurance run in the sixth off a fielder's choice to regain their two run lead. Siena made a final push, but stranded a pair in the home half of the inning and failed to mount more than one runner on in the seventh. Army West Point junior Macey Newbary earned a complete game win in the affair, striking out five and walking a pair of batters. Junior
Brooke Hughes (0-5) took the loss for the Saints, fanning two and walking four in four innings to start the game. Freshman
Sarah Dowalo pitched an impressive three innings of relief thereafter, striking out one batter and not allowing a hit during that time.
GAME TWO – Siena 1, Army West Point 0
Led by a two-way effort from rookie
Yamila Evans, the Saints bounced back shortly after, wiping away an eight-game losing streak overall and a four-game skid against their opponents. Getting the nod in the circle, Evans kicked off what would be the team's first shutout since May 1, 2018 with just one hit allowed and three walks issued over four innings. Junior
Maddie McMahon then came on in relief and struck out four batters to help the Saints through the final three innings, allowing her to move into sole possession of third-place in program history with her sixth career shutout.
On the offensive side, Evans batted in the team's lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Saints were retired in order in two of the first three frames. The Pasadena, CA native singled to right field with runners in scoring position, allowing Sabihon to come home for the games deciding scoring play. Despite stranding two runners that inning, the team's defense banded together to stop an Army comeback attempt in the fifth, retire the side in order in the sixth, and end the game after allowing a runner on to start the seventh. Evans improved to 1-1 on the season with the win, while McMahon notched just the second save of her career.
Following the split, Siena now turns its attention to conference play, with a pair of MAAC home doubleheaders on-tap this weekend. The Saints will host Iona at the Siena Softball Field at noon and 2 PM on Saturday, before welcoming in Fairfield for a pair of games at the same time on Sunday.
