ALBANY, NY – Siena Softball returned to the Capital Region Wednesday afternoon against its longtime crosstown rival and the alma mater of its current head coach. The Saints (12-8) dropped 4-1 and 8-4 decisions to UAlbany at UAlbany Field in what was supposed to be its home opener but was moved locations and shifted forward one day due to field conditions.

UAlbany 4, Siena 1

Following a scoreless opening frame, the Great Danes placed a pair on-base and got up early with an RBI double to left field in the second inning. A double steal allowed an insurance run to score in the third, while a Siena fielding error brought in one more run in the fifth.

The Saints – who batted at the bottom of the frame as the home team during both games by virtue of being the original host – stranded six runners on base and were out-hit, 10-7. Siena's offense came alive late with senior Jocelyn Ulrich sending her second home run of the season down the right field line, while freshman Emma Petersen singled up the middle. Petersen was called out at home two batters later attempting to score on a double, and the Saints could not get any closer in the score column.

UAlbany's Wendie Hammond (6-4) struck out three while allowing the lone run in a complete game win in the circle, while graduate student Ava Fitzmaurice (4-3) also fanned three while allowing four runs (three earned) in a complete game loss. Fitzmaurice, Petersen, and junior Mikala Fletcher all contributed multiple hits in the error.

UAlbany 8, Siena 4
The teams endured a two-and-a-half hour episode after concluding the opener in under two hours, with the Great Danes scoring the first seven runs of the contest. RBI doubles in the second and third innings preceded a three-run home run in the fourth before Siena finally broke through on the board.

Senior Shannon Bonewit proved to have a big performance in store, beginning with a single up the middle that plated Fletcher and sophomore Emmalynn Skaff. After a UAlbany sacrifice fly in the fifth put the lead back at six, Bonewit and the Saints had two more runs in the tank, with the senior again scoring Fletcher on an RBI single and Fitzmaurice sending in junior Isabella Pardo on a single up the middle later in the frame.

The Great Danes held a 13-10 advantage in hits, with Kate Powers (1-0) taking home the win with four earned runs allowed off ten hits and three strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings. Sophomore Alissa Eimont took the loss in two and one-third innings with one strikeout and three earned runs allowed, while senior Nicole Patille (1.1) and redshirt-junior Diana Parker (3-1) also took the circle. Pardo finished 3-4 to lead the team offensively, while Bonewit turned in a trio of RBI's.

Siena will have a whole week away from play before remaining on the road in non-conference action. The Saints will next head to Fairfield, Connecticut on Wednesday, March 29 for a doubleheader with Sacred Heart beginning at 2 PM.