CARY, NC – It's time for Siena Softball to party like it's 1978. The Saints are 5-0 for the first time in 45 years and for only the second time in program history following an 8-1 win over North Carolina Central to complete a three-game weekend series sweep at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary North Carolina on Sunday morning.

After collecting 10-2 and 10-5 victories as part of a Saturday doubleheader sweep, the Green and Gold used a double down the left field line from sophomore Ashley Giampolo put a pair on the board in the second inning, and replicated in the third thanks to RBI singles from seniors Emma McLaughlin and Angelina Stile.  

After taking a 5-0 lead thanks to a sacrifice fly from redshirt-junior Diana Parker, the Saints let up a run to the eagles on a double steal in the bottom of the fourth. Redshirt-freshman Alissa Eimont allowed just that single run on four hits as part of a brilliant complete game in the circle, which paved the way for three more insurance runs.

The Green and Gold saw the first two home runs in the final three innings, with graduate student Ava Fitzmaurice sending a solo shot to left in the fifth and sophomore McKenzie Swinson racing around the bases for an inside the park home run in the seventh. Fitzmaurice came in to score on an RBI ground out from senior Jocelyn Ulrich later in the inning.

The Saints held a 7-4 hits advantage with Fitzmaurice and Giampolo each registering multi-knock days. Eimont (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win in the circle with 11 strikeouts in the process, while NCCU's Jaylah Barr (0-1) took the loss with four earned runs given up in two and one-third innings.

Siena will again head south next weekend in search of its best start in program history, with the team taking part in six games over three days at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida from Feb. 24-26.