LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Softball (17-13, 6-0) will look to continue its best start to conference play in program history this weekend when it hosts a pair of MAAC rivals in doubleheader action. The Saints will welcome Iona (14-15, 4-2) to the Siena softball Field on Friday, April 15 at Noon and 2 PM, and will host Canisius (16-15, 5-3) on Saturday, April 16 at Noon and 2 PM.  
 
Both doubleheaders will be streamed live on Siena All-Access. Live stats will be available for all games, while 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: Quick Hits
 

• Siena opened home play with a victory in its home opener for the first time since 2017 on Monday, en-route to a doubleheader sweep of Fairfield to the tune of 5-4 and 4-2 victories. An RBI single up the middle from junior Shannon Bonewit gave the Saints a walk-off win in game one, while freshman pitcher Adriana Romano earned both victories in the circle.
• Wet weather continued to affect the Green and Gold during the week, with Tuesday's scheduled home doubleheader against Colgate postponed and Wednesday's scheduled twin bill at Army West Point cancelled.
• Following their third consecutive doubleheader sweep over a MAAC opponent, Siena remains as one of just 12 teams nationally to have not lost in conference play. Siena has won eight of its last ten and 11 of its last 14 games overall.
• Siena also got off to its first 2-0 start at home since 2017, and will look to go 3-0 and 4-0 at home for the first time since 2016.
• The Saints have played road warriors prior to returning to the Capital Region, going 11-5 in a 16-game road trip over the last three weeks. Siena is one of only ten programs nationally with 11 or more true road victories this season, and has tied the program record for road wins set in 2014. Siena's victories this season have come in eight different states and provinces, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Florida.
• Two Saints have taken home multiple MAAC weekly honors this season, with senior two-way player Ava Fitzmaurice winning MAAC player of the Week twice and freshman Kyleigh Potter earning a pair of MAAC Rookie of the Week honors.
• Siena currently leads the MAAC in fielding percentage as a team (.973), while ranking inside the top-3 in the league in batting average (third, .277), doubles (third, 40), ERA (third, 3.19), on-base percentage (third, .351), runs per-game (third, 4.77), slugging percentage (third, .385), strikeout-to-walk ratio (second, 2.00), and triples per-game (third, 0.17).
• Individually, senior Sabrina Vargas leads the league in on-base percentage (.471) ands hit by pitcher per-game (0.27), while Fitzmaurice is tops in the conference in slugging percentage (.646), toughest to strike out (24.0), and triples per-game (0.10).
• Under the direction of second-year head coach Casey Bump, the Saints were picked to finish seventh in the 2022 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Saints will aim to finish inside the top-6 in the MAAC and advance to what would be its fifth straight MAAC Tournament appearance in eligible seasons.
• Siena holds a 1-3 record against the Gaels under Coach Bump, while taking three of four games over Canisius last season.

On Iona

• Under the direction of first-year head coach Alyssa Tiumalu, Iona sits at 4-2 overall in conference play for third place. The Gaels split a mid-week make-up doubleheader at Marist on Wednesday, with the Red Foxes taking a 5-3 win in 10 innings in game one before the Gaels took a 2-1 nightcap victory.
• Iona has also faced Monmouth and Rider in conference play thus far, taking a sweep over the Hawks and splitting with the Broncs.
• The Gaels lead the league in home runs per-game, while standout pitcher Kara Zazzaro leads the league in strikeouts (137) and strikeouts per seven innings (10.1).
• Iona was chosen to finish fourth in the league in the 2022 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, with senior outfielder Jessica Chilcott selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and Zazzaro also unanimously selected to the Preseason All-MAAC squad.
• Iona holds a 46-23 advantage all-time over Siena, taking three of four regular season matchups at Siena Softball Field last season. The two teams have played each of the last six meetings at Siena dating back to 2019.

On Canisius

• The Golden Griffins head to the Capital Region with a 5-3 MAAC record tied for fourth in the league, and are coming off their first win over a Power 5 opponent since 2014. Wednesday's mid-week doubleheader featured a split at Syracuse, with Canisius taking a 4-3 victory in game one.
• Canisius has captured a win in three of its last four MAAC contests, taking a doubleheader split over Monmouth last weekend and splitting a doubleheader at Rider. They were also swept by Marist earlier this year.
• Canisius leads the MAAC in doubles per-game (1.34), scoring (5.17 runs per-game), stolen bases per-game (2.17), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.29), and triples per-game (0.34). Individually, pitcher Megan Giese ranks tops in the league in hits allowed per seven innings (4.67), saves (3), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.60), Gianna Fazzolari is first in home runs (8) and RBI per-game (0.97), and Christie McGee-Ross leads the league in stolen bases (16).
• The Golden Griffins were chosen sixth in the 2022 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, with no players selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
• Canisius holds a 39-19 advantage in the all-time series, with the Saints having won three of four regular season meetings last year and six of the last seven games overall. The teams have also played each of the last six meetings in Loudonville.

On Deck Circle:
 
Following the Easter holiday, Siena will begin next week with a crosstown series at UAlbany on Thursday, April 21 at 2 PM.