LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Softball kicked off an arduous week of competition by getting back in the win column in an impressive doubleheader road performance. The Saints (22-10) came away with a doubleheader sweep of Bryant (11-20) in their first-ever tip to Conaty Park in Smithfield, Rhode Island, taking home 9-1 and 1-0 victories on Wednesday.

Siena 9, Bryant 1

The Green and Gold began the first of five doubleheaders over a span of seven days with an early battle against the Bulldogs, with senior Angelina Stile plating graduate student Sabrina Vargas on an RBI single in the top of the first to get the Saints on the board.Bryant responded with a bases-loaded walk in the home half of the frame to knot the game at one, with the contest remaining tied entering the fourth inning.

The Saints used a crooked top of the fourth to bolt away with the lead, beginning a three-run innings with sophomore Ashley Giampolo coming home on a wild pitch. Sabrina Vargas used her first collegiate triple to send in redshirt-junior Diana Parker before scoring herself off a sacrifice fly from graduate student Ava Fitzmaurice. Giampolo doubled to right field and sent in freshman Emma Petersen the following inning to give Siena a 5-1 advantage after five.

The Saints used the final two innings to reach the run-rule and ultimately out-hit Bryant, 12-4. Fitzmaurice scored junior Isabella Pardo on an RBI single and sophomore Emmalynn Skaff scored on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth, while Vargas doubled to right for her third hit of the game in the seventh to plate Parker and Giampolo.

Both Parker and Vargas recorded three hits to steady Siena offensively, with Vargas going for 3 RBI's and also crossing the plate three times. Redshirt-freshman Alissa Eimont (6-3) struck out one batter while allowing just three hits in five successful innings in the circle, while senior Allison Speshyock fanned a batter during the final two defensive frames for the Saints. Caroline Paolantonio (1-5) took the loss for Bryant over two innings.

Siena 1, Bryant 0

 The Saints used the final frame of the nightcap to complete their seventh shutout and sixth doubleheader sweep of the year thus far. A pitching duel ensued between Parker for the Saints and Kylie Kenney for the Bulldogs, with Kenney retiring from the game with ten strikeouts in a five-inning no-decision.

The first hit of the game for either squad did not come until the bottom of the third with Bryant stranding a pair in that frame and Siena returning the favor in the following one. Parker and the Siena defense managed to leave a pair of Bulldogs on-base defensively to end the sixth and set up what would be the game-winning play in the seventh.

After recording her first two collegiate home runs in back-to-back games of a doubleheader last Thursday, senior Shannon Bonewit again dialed up the big bat, sending a ball over the center field fence for a solo home run with one out in the top of the seventh. The defense retired the side in order to end the ballgame, with both teams recording five hits apiece in the defensive tussle.

Bonewit's multi-hit performance led the way for the Saints offensively, while Parker improved to a perfect 3-0 in the circle this season during her first start of the year and her first-ever collegiate complete game, striking out four batters. Bryant's Brooke Tracy took the loss in two innings by giving up the late big fly.

Siena will waste no time in continuing play, returning home for a season-long eight-game home stand on Thursday, April 13. The Saints will kick things off with a non-league doubleheader against Army West Point at Siena Softball Field, with action slated for 2 & 4 PM on ESPN Plus.