Siena Softball (19-13) took a 4-2 victory at MAAC foe Quinnipiac (8-26) before dropping a 5-3 decision to end the four-game weekend series at Quinnipiac Softball Field in Hamden, Connecticut and take a split on the day. The Saints, who have won four of their last five, still clinched the series victory with three of four overall in game one.
Game 1: Siena 4, Quinnipiac 2
Following a doubleheader sweep of the Bobcats to begin the final weekend of regular season play in 2021, Siena used a late-frame comeback to win its fourth straight ballgameand clinch its third series victory of the year. QU pulled out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second with an RBI single to right, while Siena starting pitcher
Nicole Patille ended up with a five-inning no decision in the circle, allowing a pair of earned runs off four hits and striking out two.
The Saints finally broke through for a crooked inning in the top of the sixth, plating four runs to grab hold of a lead that they would not relinquish. Sophomore
Maritza Diaz dropped an RBI bunt single to send in junior
Sabrina Vargas to score, while sophomore
Shannon Bonewit reached on an error that allowed Diaz to come in to score. Sophomore
Kaitlyn Davis completed the go-ahead frame with a 2 RBI double that plated Bonewit and classmate
Angelina Stile.
The Bobcats got a run back in the bottom of the frame on a bases-loaded single up the middle, but stranded a pair of runners in the final two innings and could not make up any more ground. Sophomore
Allison Speshyock (8-3) took home her second win of the weekend by throwing a scoreless frame, while senior
Taylor Rhinehart picked up her fourth save of the year with a pair of strikeouts in the final inning. Quinnipiac's Julia Woeste (2-18) took the complete game loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits.
Game 2: Quinnipiac 5, Siena 3
After dropping the first three games of the series and their last nine heading into game four, the Bobcats finally managed to find the scoreboard and salvage a game in the series. After allowing Siena junior
Yamila Evans to score on an error in the top of the first, the bobcats plated four runs in the home half of the second, using a 2 RBI double, an RBI single, and a bases-loaded walk to get the job done.
The Saints would attempt a comeback in the final three innings of play, with Diaz scoring Vargas on an RBI single to left field in the top of the fifth and Bonewit plating Davis with her first extra-base hit in a Siena uniform. One more run off an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth game QU its fifth run of the day, with Siena stranding three runners on-base in the final two innings. Quinnipiac's Tori McGraw (5-6) picked up the complete game victory while allowing just a pair of earned runs and striking out two, while Siena's
Maddie McMahon (7-4) suffered the loss in one and two third innings on. Evans went 3-4 offensively to lead the Saints in the loss.
Siena now enters the final three days of regular season action in position to potentially host a MAAC Quarterfinal series next weekend and just one win away from what would be the tenth 20-win campaign in program history. The Saints are scheduled to end regular season play at home against Marist on Wednesday, May 5, with doubleheader action scheduled for 12 PM & 2 PM at Siena Softball Field.
