LOUDONVILLE, NY – Following a season which was cut short and another which featured an abbreviated, conference-only schedule, Siena Softball will return to a full slate of action beginning this weekend to commence the 2022 season. The Saints will take the field for six games at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida February 25-27.
 
Siena will open its 47^th season with its first battle with Princeton since 2011, set for Friday at 1:30 PM. The Saints will then meet Big Ten foe Rutgers for the first time ever at 6:30 PM. Saturday's action features a doubleheader against Cornell beginning at 1:30 PM, while the Green and Gold will battle North Florida on Sunday 9 AM and Florida Gulf Coast at Noon.
 
Each of Siena's six contests this weekend will be streamed live on FloSoftball, with live stats available for select games. In-game updates will be provided via the team's official twitter page @Siena_Softball. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints, and #MAACSoftball.
 
Starting Lineup: Siena Opening Weekend Quick Hits
 

• Siena returns to non-conference play for the first time in two seasons, and will take the field in the Sunshine State for the first time since 2019, when they defeated 2022 opponents Cornell and North Florida at the Madeira Beach Invitational.
• The Saints will play under the direction of head coach Casey Bump for the second season, and will look to build on a 19-15 overall record and a 19-13 mark in MAAC play in 2021. The team posted its first winning record since 2016 and its most wins ever in conference play to earn the #5 seed in the 2021 MAAC Tournament, falling in the Quarterfinal round to #4 Fairfield.
• Bump will be assisted by Stephanie Reinhardt and George Cooper for the second season, while former program standout Isabelle DeChiaro '21 joins the coaching staff for her first season as a volunteer assistant.  
• The Green and Gold were selected to finish seventh in the 2021 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, earning 57 votes and finishing ahead of conference rivals Rider, Quinnipiac, Niagara, and Saint Peter's.
• Siena's offense returns five starters from last season, and will look to replace its top-3 hitters from 2021. The program returns 12 letterwinners overall, while welcoming nine newcomers, including transfers Ava Fitzmaurice (New Haven) and Jocelyn Ulrich (New Mexico / Yavapai College)
• The team also brings back half its pitching staff from last season, including juniors Allison Speshyock (8-3, 2.95 ERA), and Nicole Patille (2-4, 2.95 ERA).
• The Saints have a pair of opponents on their schedule for this season who made the NCAA Tournament in 2021, including defending MAAC Champion Manhattan (April 3) and MEAC Champion Morgan State (March 22). The 2022 slate also includes a pair of first-time, Power Five foes in Rutgers (February 25) and Purdue (March 13).
• Siena will take the field at home for 16 games at the Siena Softball Field beginning on April 9, including a string of six straight home contests from April 9-12 and eight straight from April 26-May 1. The Saints posted a 10-6 mark at home last season, and have recorded double-digit home wins in four of the last five years.
• The Saints will aim to finish as one of the MAAC's top-six teams to qualify for the 2022 MAAC Tournament, which will take place at the home field of the No. 1 seed from May 11-14.

 
On Deck Circle:
 
The Saints will have two weeks off before returning to Florida to take part in the Madeira Beach Invitational II March 11-13. The team will face off against non-conference foes Bucknell, LIU, Merrimack, Holy Cross, Lafayette, and Purdue in its final neutral site tournament action of the season.