Despite playing its ninth and tenth games over the last seven days, Siena Softball (11-7) continued to roll in mid-week doubleheader action at Siena Softball Field Tuesday afternoon. The Saints have now won seven in a row after taking down MAAC foe Canisius (7-8) in 6-5 and 6-4 decisions to begin a four-game affair between the two squads.
 
Game 1: Siena 6, Canisius 5 (9)
 
Looking to capitalize off its first series win of the year over the weekend, the Green and Gold had to march back from a four-run deficit to extend time during the opening contest. The Golden Griffins used an RBI single in the top of the third to get on the board, and extended the lead to 4-0 after four with two more base knocks that scored three in the fourth.
 
After Canisius chased Siena starting pitcher Allison Speshyock from the game after three-and-one-third innings, sophomore Nicole Patille came in and allowed the offense to climb back into the game. The Saints put a pair on base in the fifth for freshman Isabella Pardo to reach on an error at second that allowed sophomore Maritza Diaz to score. Pardo and sophomore Antonia Alba came in on the next at-bat to make it a one-run game, with junior Sabrina Vargas getting the job done on a single to left center. Finally, sophomore Emma McLaughlin tied the game with an RBI single to center that scored senior Isabelle DeChiaro.
 
Both teams had chances to push across the go-ahead run in the final two innings but could not, leading to Siena's second extra-inning affair in four days. After a scoreless eighth inning that saw the Golden Griffins strand a pair and Siena leave the game-winning run on first, Canisius took a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth off a two-out error. Siena rebounded and had the last laugh, however, with McLaughlin doubling to right field to send home Vargas and Pardo, completing the 6-5 walk-off win.
 
Patille (1-1) took home her first win of the season in five-and-two-thirds innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits and walking and striking out three batters apiece. After nearly five no-decision innings from Canisius starting pitcher Emily Nicosia, Alexis Churchhill (2-1) was tagged with the loss, giving up three hits that were responsible for the two runs over three-and-two-thirds innings. McLaughlin (3-5) and Vargas (3-3) each had three-hit outings to lead the Saints offensively.
 
Game 2: Siena 6, Canisius 4
 
The Saints had to come from behind in the second game as well, but were able to get the job done in regulation for their seventh straight win and fifth in a row over Canisius. After a sacrifice fly in the top of the first put the visitors in front, Pardo singled to left center with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second to allow sophomore Angelina Stile to come around and score. DeChiaro was hit by a pitch to score senior Taylor Rhinehart later in the inning, while McLaughlin reached on a two-out error that sent in Pardo and Vargas to make it a 4-1 Siena lead after two.
 
Following a pair of scoreless innings to help the game move along, Canisius' Kara Paradowski allowed the Golden Griffins to temporarily tie the game at four in the fifth inning. The senior laced a triple to left center to score a pair before coming home herself on a wild pitch to knot it up. With runners on first and second in the bottom of the frame, Alba became the hero for the Green and Gold, drilling a three-bagger of her down to right field and score Diaz and sophomore Kaitlyn Davis on what would be the go-ahead play. After five innings from graduate pitcher Maddie McMahon (4-2) that included a pair of strikeouts, Rhinehart struck out a pair in two scoreless innings in the circle for the Saints to collect her second save of the year. Canisius' Shealyn Ollison (2-1) took the loss by conceding the final two runs in three and one-third relief innings, while Pardo, Stile, and Diaz each collected two hits to lead the Saints offensively.
 
Siena is now off to its best 18-game start in program history and has won seven-in-a-row for the first time since winning a program record 11 straight during the 2012 campaign. The Saints will look for their second consecutive series victory in more mid-week doubleheader action on Wednesday, April 14, with first pitch set for 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Siena will honor seniors DeChiaro, McMahon, Rhinehart and Neysa Ouellette as part of its 2021 Senior Day activities prior to the doubleheader.