FAIRFIELD, CT – Siena Softball (11-11) passed its final test before commencing conference play in the 2022 season Wednesday afternoon, taking a doubleheader sweep from Sacred Heart (6-18) at Pioneer Park in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Saints evoked an 11-0 mercy rule win in game one before edging out a 3-2 nightcap victory to pick up their second doubleheader sweep in the past week.
 
Siena 11, Sacred Heart 0 (5)
 
The Saints kicked off their first action against the Pioneers with a bang, playing a scoreless opening frame before sending 13 to bat and dropping a seven-run frame in the seventh, with a double, three RBI singles, and a bases-loaded hit by pitch powering the visitors in front. The third RBI of the day for senior Ava Fitzmaurice in the form of an RBI double plated another run in the top of the third, while a bases-loaded double to left center from freshman Kyleigh Potter gave the game its final score.
 
The Saints held a staggering 14-1 hits advantage, with four Siena players recording multi-hit outings and Fitzmaurice teaming up with Potter to combine for eight RBI's. Fitzmaurice also tossed a gem in the circle, improving to 7-4 on the year with a single hit allowed and four strikeouts over five innings. The Saints picked up their second mercy-rule win of the year, while also defeating an opponent by double-figures for the second time this season.
 
Siena 3, Sacred Heart 2
 
Siena used the nightcap of the doubleheader to capture its fourth straight win over the Pioneers and its first sweep of its Constitution State opponent on the road since 2002. Following three scoreless innings to open the game which featured five early strikeouts from junior arm Nicole Patille, the home team broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to center. SHU added an insurance run in the form of an RBI single the following inning, but the Saints offense woke up in the top of the sixth.
 
Sacred Heart was forced to make a pitching change after the Saints drew an inning-opening walk to set up junior Emma McLaughlin for an RBI double to left to score Potter and put her team within one. The go-ahead hit came in the form of junior Jocelyn Ulrich's second long ball of the season, with the catcher launching a two-run home to center field to put Siena on top, 3-2. Following five strikeouts over six innings from Patille (3-2) Fitzmaurice returned to the circle to tally her second save of the year, striking out a batter in the seventh to preserve the Siena lead. McLaughlin led the way offensively with the Saints with a pair of the teams' five hits.
 
Having tallied its most non-league wins in a season since 2016, Siena will stay on the road for weekend action to begin MAAC play, with a doubleheader at Saint Peter's set for Saturday, April 2 beginning at Noon.