LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Softball earned its first doubleheader sweep of the 2019 season Tuesday afternoon, taking down Sacred Heart twice to wrap up a six-game home stand. The Saints pulled together a 5-4 comeback win in game one, and turned an early rally into a six-inning, 3-1, victory in game two. The Green and gold have now won their last three contests, and four of their last six matchups with the Pioneers.
Game One – Siena 5, Sacred Heart 4
Taking the field after Sunday's scheduled conference doubleheader with Fairfield was postponed due to rain, Siena (7-13, 1-1) rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to get back in the game in the fifth inning. After a scoreless frame got the afternoon started, Sacred Heart (17-16) put runners on the corners after an error at left field in the top of the third, and plated the game's first run with a one-out RBI single up the middle. Two more would come in two batters later, with a bases-loaded RBI single down the left field line doing the trick.
With junior Brooke Hughes, who entered the day having pitched the previous nine and two-thirds innings for the Saints, cruising along on the mound, Siena would allow just one more run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth before scoring five of their own to cement the comeback. With two on in the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Isabelle DeChiaro singled to left to send home senior Madysen Cossack from second and put the Saints on the board. Senior Loryn DeFalco then sent home junior Lauren Sabihon on a sacrifice fly on the next batter, and two straight betters were plunked before Amanda Dodson, who came into catch during the previous frame, came up to bat. The junior tied the ballgame with a single to left center, plating DeChiaro and freshman Natalie Marchese.
After the next two frames went in order, the Saints stranded a Pioneer in the top of the seventh to come up in the bottom half and load the bases with one out. Dodson proved to be the hero, as she sent a sacrifice fly deep to center field to allow DeChiaro to come home and end the game. Hughes (2-5) took her second straight win in compete fashion, fanning six batters and walking four, while allowing just a single earned run. After Sacred Heart starter Emily Orosco struck out five in a 4.2 inning no-decision, Shyanne Fennell (5-2) took the loss in a two-inning relief appearance. Cossack's lone hit on the game, a two-bagger to center field in the bottom of the third, tied her with Shannon Jones for the program record in doubles, giving her 51 on her storied career thus far.
Game Two – Siena 3, Sacred Heart 1 (6)
Game two proved to be freshman two-way player Yamila Evans' turn to take a complete game victory in the circle for the Saints, with the freshman striking out a career-high five batters and walking two to improve to 2-1 on the year. The Pasadena, California native also received the early run support she needed, as Siena took a 2-0 lead off the bat to start the game. After Cossack singled up the middle, Sabihon laced the team's first triple of the year to put the Saints on the board. The Torrance, CA product would come home herself on the next at-bat, as DeChiaro laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt to second base.
Following a trio of strikeouts from Evans over the next three innings, Cossack ended her meaningful afternoon with a booming solo homerun over the centerfield wall, her third of the season, to give the Saints their final run. Sacred Heart would then leave a pair on in the both fourth and the fifth, with a runner picked off at home to end the latter. With darkness looming, the Pioneers placed a runner on first with one out, and had another reach as far as second after a stolen base, but could not answer the two-run hole. The game was called due to darkness after one hour and 28 minutes, following SHU's chance to bat in the top of the sixth. Colleen Walsh (2-2) took the complete game loss for the Pioneers, walking one batter in five innings of action.
Following three consecutive home series, Siena now heads back out on the road with its longest winning streak of the season. The Saints head west to take on Niagara in a MAAC doubleheader Saturday afternoon before returning to the Siena Softball Field the following day to host Holy Cross in a non-conference series.
