HARRISONBURG, VA– Siena Softball (1-7) was challenged with two more games against national powers Saturday, falling to RV/RV James Madison and California to continue action at the 2020 JMU Invitational in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Saints fell to the Dukes, 10-2, and faltered against the Golden Bears, 14-6, with both games lasting six innings.

RV/RV James Madison 10, Siena 2 (6)

Nearly facing off with a ranked opponent for what would have been just the third time in program history, the Saints were overwhelmed out of the gate in their first-ever meeting with the Dukes. The tournament host used the home half of the second inning to slide across four runs on three RBI doubles and added a pair of RBI singles to take a 6-0 lead heading into the of the sixth inning.

Siena's bats final woke up in the top of the sixth, with junior co-captain Isabelle DeChiaro sending home classmate Taylor Rhinehart with an RBI double, and freshman Angelina Stile continuing a stellar weekend by sending in sophomore Sabrina Vargas on an RBI ground out. The Dukes ended the game in the bottom of the frame, using a solo home run, a 2 RBI two-bagger and a sacrifice fly to get the job done.

JMU out-hit the Saints, 8-3, in the contest, with Alexis Burmudez (5-0) taking a complete game win with a strikeout and a pair of walks dealt in six innings in the circle. Senior Maddie McMahon (1-3) was tagged with the loss for the Saints, surrendering four earned runs on as many hits in two innings, while striking out a pair. Freshman Allison Speshyock spent 2.2 innings in the circle in succession, while sophomore Sarah Dowalo took the reigns in the final frame.

California 14, Siena 6

The Green and Gold returned to Veterans Memorial Field later in the day to once again do battle with the Golden Bears. Cal only needed two innings to take a 7-0 lead, with a single, throwing error, sacrifice fly, three-run homer and an RBI ground out combining to do so.

Siena fired back in the middle innings, scoring six of the game's next eight runs from the third to the top of the fifth inning. DeChiaro used another two-bagger to send in Vargas, while Stile's RB single allowed Rhinehart to cross the plate. Senior Lauren Sabihon then launched a three-run shot in the third to send in both Stile and DeChiaro in her first home run of the year.

Despite another score in the fifth via and RBI ground out from Sabihon, Cal played the final five runs to force a mercy rule in the sixth inning. Five different pitchers were used between the two squads, with Chloe Romero (7-4) taking the win for the Golden Bears with four strikeouts in as many innings, and freshman Nicole Patille (0-1) registering her first career decision by giving up six runs (three earned) in just two-thirds of a frame.

Siena will conclude action at the JMU Invitational by facing off against the Dukes one final time on Sunday, March 8, with first pitch set for 10:30 AM from the Commonwealth.