MADEIRA BEACH, FL – Whether in cold New Jersey, moderate North Carolina, or toasty Florida, Siena Softball has continued to triumph to begin the 2023 season. The Saints are 6-0 for the first time ever following an 8-4 over Valparaiso (1-5) to begin weekend action at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida on Friday morning.

Now having won ten of its last 11 and 20 of its last 22 games dating back to last season, the Green and Gold overcame an early two-run hole to score eight straight runs. After a 2 RBI double got the Indiana-based foe on the board in the top of the first, The Saints responded by sending senior graduate student Ava Fitzmaurice home on a fielding error and plating senior Jocelyn Ulrich on an RBI single from freshman Emma Petersen to even the score.

An error in the second led to a crooked inning with sophomore McKenzie Swinson scoring to give Siena the lead for good, while sophomore Isabella Pardo plated senior Angelina Stile on an RBI single in the third and Swinson scored again in the third off a double steal that also sent junior Pardo to second.  

The fourth inning brought in three more runs, with Petersen scoring sophomore Emmalynn Skaff on an RBI single, senior Emma McLaughlin coming in on a wild pitch, and Stile sending in Petersen on an RBI single. Valpo responded with a pair of runs in the sixth, but it was not enough to complete the comeback against a potent Siena offensive attack.

The Saints held a 9-7 hits advantage and capitalized on four Valparaiso errors, with Fitzmaurice, Petersen, Stile, and Swinson each recording multi-hit outings. Fitzmaurice (3-0) struck out four in five innings in the circle to start, while senior Allison Speshyock pitched the final two frames for the Saints. Valparaiso's Caitlyn Kowalski (0-3) took the loss with three runs (one earned) given up over three and two-thirds innings.

Siena's scheduled nightcap of the day against Oakland was postponed due to travel delays with the Golden Grizzlies. The Saints will continue weekend action at The Spring Games on Saturday, February 25 against ACC foe Notre Dame at 1:30 PM and Dartmouth at 4 PM. The Fighting Irish received votes in the first two weeks of national softball polls.