LOUDONVILLE, NY – Winners in six of their last eight conference contests, Siena Softball is set to begin their final home stand of the 2019 season with a pair of pivotal MAAC doubleheaders this weekend. The Saints will host Rider on Saturday, April 27 at Noon and 2 PM, and welcome in defending champions Monmouth on Sunday, April 28 at Noon and 2 PM at Siena Softball Field. Saturday will serve as Senior Day, with the Saints' five members of the Class of 2019 receiving recognition prior to the start of game one.
This weekend's contests can be viewed by logging on to SienaAllAccess.com. Viewers can catch all the action online for $7.95 via their laptops, desktops, and tablets, as well as on iOS (Apple) devices including those that support Adobe Flash 10.1 or greater (Android devices).
Special features to the Siena All-Access platform include enhanced graphics, up-to-the-second live stats, and pertinent related twitter and ticker updates. Additionally, all games are archived upon their conclusion and can viewed at any time thereafter through the on-demand feature.
On Deck Circle:
· Entering the weekend with a 16-20 overall record, including an 8-4 mark in the MAAC and 9-5 at home, the Saints have a chance to surpass their win total from last season (18) and potentially reach their eighth 20-win campaign in the last nine seasons. This weekend could also mark their seventh consecutive season with double-digit conference victories, with all coming under the direction of Head Coach Bill Lajeunesse. The squad has already surpassed their home win total from 2018 and could potentially approach the program record for home victories, set in 1999 at 12.
· After claiming three of four home conference contests against Fairfield and Canisius last weekend, the Green and Gold suffered a doubleheader sweep at Colgate in non-conference mid-week action Wednesday afternoon. The Saints fell in nine innings, 5-4, before taking an 8-5 loss in game two. Senior Madysen Cossack tied the program record for all-time walks in game one before recording a four-RBI performance to cap the day, including a two-run homer to right field for her team-leading ninth big-fly of the season.
· With four chances to do so coming up, Cossack can set the all-time program mark for walks with her next free pass and can also join legend Shannon Jones as just the second Saint to reach the 200-hit mark on her career with her next base knock. With 99 career MAAC wins, Lajeunesse will become the first skipper in program history to reach triple-digit conference victories with his next one.
· Saturday's Senior Day activities will honor the five Siena Softball members of the Class of 2019, which include Cossack, Loryn DeFalco, Jessika Jaime, Jazmin Ortiz & Jess Vollmer. The group has combined for 80 overall wins over the past four seasons, including a 45-27 mark in conference play and appearances in each of the last two MAAC Tournaments, with a third trip at-bay for this season.
· The Saints enter their fifth conference weekend of the 2019 campaign with a pair of recent MAAC weekly award winners on their roster. Cossack was named MAAC Player of the Week Tuesday afternoon after batting .500 with eight RBI and three home runs last week, while junior right-hander Maddie McMahon was tabbed MAAC Pitcher of the week following earning four wins with a 1.07 ERA and 19 strikeouts in five appearances in the circle last week.
· Having put together one of the most complete and decorated careers in a Siena uniform, Cossack enters the weekend inside the program top-10 in 11 different offensive categories, while leading the team in 12 and ranking top-3 in the MAAC in batting average (.464), RBI (37), total bases (89), hits (51) and home runs (9). The co-captain sits sixth nationally in batting average, as well as 12th in on-base percentage (.549) and 33rd in slugging percentage (.809).
· With 14 home games under their belt and three more doubleheader series (six games) remaining on the schedule for the 2019 season, Siena is on-pace to play the most games at Siena Softball Field since 2004, having taken the field 20 times at home that year.
· The Saints will look to keep up a 12-game winning streak against Rider and maintain a perfect mark against Monmouth at home. Siena leads the Broncs, 24-18, in the all-time series, while trailing the Hawks, 5-8. Siena has not lost to Rider since 2012 and swept Monmouth in both doubleheaders the pair has played in Loudonville.
· Currently sitting in fourth place in the conference with eight scheduled MAAC games remaining, Siena will look to take their place inside the top-3 and potentially first place this weekend. Monmouth is currently tied with Marist at the top of the league with an 11-3 mark, while Rider is in 10th place with a 3-9 conference record.
Scouting The Opponent: Rider
· Entering the weekend with a 7-37 overall record, the Broncs take a four-game losing skid to the Capital Region, having been swept at Quinnipiac on Tuesday and at Army West Point the following afternoon. The Broncs have picked up conference wins by splitting home series with Niagara and Monmouth, as well as a road doubleheader split at Saint Peter's.
· Picked to finish 10th in the 2019 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, Rider is led offensively by outfielder Kelsey Marigliano, who leads the team in batting average (.290), runs (17), hits (38) and walks (15). Additionally, junior Elyse Cuttic earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC squad as a designated player. As a tam, the Broncs carry the highest combined ERA in the conference at 6.92, while pitchers are tied for the least number of wins in the league with seven.
Scouting The Opponent: Monmouth
· At 28-15 on the season and 11-3 in conference play, Monmouth boasts the best overall record in the league, and is tied for the most wins in conference play. After suffering a series sweep at Marist last Friday, the Hawks rebounded to earn an 8-0 run-rule victory over Princeton on Tuesday at home. Monmouth holds the best team ERA (2.46) and fielding percentage (.970) in the MAAC, with freshman Lindsey Baron leading the league in runs (45), doubles (18), triples (3), and total bases (99). Additionally, sophomore pitcher Alyssa Irons is tops in the conference with 175 strikeouts.
· Entering the season after capturing their first MAAC Tournament Championship in 2018, Monmouth was selected as the preseason favorite to take home the trophy in the 2019 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Hawks have seen four players earn MAAC weekly honors this season, with Irons (5x Pitcher of the Week), Baron (1), Kayla Rosado (1) and Amanda Hopeck (1) each winning awards.
Up Next:
· Following the weekend, Siena will close the regular season with a four game MAAC road trip next weekend. The Saints will travel to Manhattan on Saturday, May 4 before concluding the campaign on May 5 at Saint Peter's.
