HAMDEN, CT – After dropping its first game of the day, Siena Softball (19-21, 8-6) finally got back in the win column to end an eight-game losing skid and take home a series split with MAAC for Quinnipiac (10-22, 4-8). The Saints dropped a 7-5 decision in game one before taking an 8-5 win in the nightcap at Quinnipiac Softball Field in Hamden, Connecticut.
 
Quinnipiac 7, Siena 5
 
Taking the field in the Constitution State for the third straight series, the Bobcats used a sacrifice fly to get the first run of the day on the board in the bottom of the first. Siena fired back with a four-run frame in the top of the second, with senior Sabrina Vargas launching a two-run homer for her second big-fly of the season, sophomore Mikala Fletcher laying down an RBI double, and senior Ava Fitzmaurice producing an RBI single.
 
The home team used a pair of RBI hits in the second to come within a run at 4-3, and pulled back ahead off an RBI double and RBI triple in the fourth. An RBI fielder's choice gave QU a 6-4 advantage in the fifth, while the Saints got back one more run off an RBI single from Fletcher to right field in the sixth. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning put the Bobcats back up by two, with the Saints stranding a pair on-base defensively in the seventh.
 
Vargas went a perfect 3-3 with a pair of RBI's from the plate, while Fletcher's two hits also batted in a pair of runs. Fitzmaurice (9-6) took the loss in the circle with two strikeouts over two and one-third innings, while freshman Adriana Romano fanned three in a two and two-third inning no-decision.
 
Siena 8, Quinnipiac 5
 
The Green and Gold rebounded with a hot start early in game two, beginning with an RBI single from junior Angelina Stile. Siena then exploded for its final seven runs all in the second inning, with sophomore Isabella Pardo, junior Jocelyn Ulrich, and Fletcher each contributing an RBI single and Fitzmaurice and junior Emma McLaughlin stringing together RBI doubles.
 
The Bobcats got on the board in the bottom of the second on a catcher's interference call, and later mounted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. A hit batter, bases-loaded walk, and RBI single gave the home team just a three-run deficit. Following six strikeouts of five and one-third innings from junior Nicole Patille (6-7), classmate Allison Speshyock took the circle with the bases loaded in the sixth and successfully guided the Saints through the remaining one and two-thirds innings, striking out a pair of batters en-route to her second save of the year. Siena held a 12-8 hits advantage, with McLaughlin going 3-4 with a pair of runs batted in to steady the team offensively.
 
After spending the last week on the road, Siena is set to return to the Capital Region for an eight-game home stand this week, beginning with non-conference doubleheader action against Bryant on Tuesday, April 26 at 2 & 4 PM at Siena Softball Field.