LOUDONVILLE, NY – After beginning a busy ten-game week on a high note, Siena Softball returns home to being a season-long eight-game homestand with non-league action. The Saints (22-10) will play host to Army West Point (16-23) at Siena Softball Field on Thursday, April 12, with doubleheader action set for 2 & 4 PM in Loudonville.
Thursday's doubleheader will be broadcasted live on ESPN Plus to begin a six-game Siena softball weekend on the platform. Siena's "Voice of the Saints" Emmanuel Berbari will have the call. Live stats will be available for all games, while In-game updates will be provided via the team's official twitter page @Siena_Softball. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints, and #MAACSoftball.
Starting Lineup: Quick Hits
- Having already posted its 12th 20-win season and off to its best start in program history through 32 games, the Saints enter a crowded home week with a 5-1 home record thus far, and return home after beginning the week on a high note. Siena posted a doubleheader sweep over Bryant on the road on Wednesday, taking home 9-1 and 1-0 victories to collect its seventh shutout and sixth doubleheader sweep of the season thus far.
- If completed in its entirety, the team's scheduled eight-game home stand will match its longest consecutive home action since hosting ten straight games in 2008.
- Siena currently owns the third-highest RPI among MAAC programs at 154, and leads the league in doubles (44) while ranking second in doubles per-game (1.47), on-base percentage (.367), shutouts (seven), and stolen bases per-game (2.10).
- Individually, graduate student and two-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Week Ava Fitzmaurice leads the conference in batting average (.408), while ranking second in slugging percentage (.643).
- Sophomore McKenzie Swinson owns the second-most stolen bases in the league this season (17) and is one swipe off tying the single-season program record (18).
- The Saints have already stolen 67 bases as a team, and are nearing the single-season team record for swipes (74) set back in 1979.
- Several Saints are nearing the 100 hit marks in a Siena uniform, including graduate student Sabrina Vargas (99), Fitzmaurice (97), and senior Emma McLaughlin (90).
- The Saints and the Black Knights will meet for the first time since 2019 and the third straight time at Siena Softball Field, with Army West Point owning an 11-7 all-time advantage since 1981. Siena took a 1-0 decision in the most recent meeting on March 28, 2019, while Army has won three of the last four games.
- Preseason All-MAAC outfielder Isabella Pardo – who was a Second Team All-MAAC selection last season while setting the single-season program record for hits – recorded her 100th collegiate hit on March 2 against Sacramento State.
- Siena swept the first MAAC Weekly Awards of the 2023 season, with Fitzmaurice taking home Player of the Week, senior Nicole Patille earning MAAC Pitcher of the Week, and first baseman Emma Petersen winning MAAC Rookie of the Week honors. Redshirt freshman Alissa Eimont was honored as the MAAC Co-Rookie of the Week on April 4.
- Picked to finish fifth in the 2023 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Siena returned nearly its entire offense from last season, including 16 letterwinners.
On Army West Point:
- The Black Knights enter Thursday's action winners in three of the last four games, including taking a weekend series over conference foe Bucknell and splitting a doubleheader with UAlbany at home to go 3-2 in a five-game home stand.
- Army West Point has already played nine Patriot League contests, and is entering games 40 & 41 on the season.
- The Black Knights rank third in their conference in batting average (.250), and are led offensively by junior outfielder Kayla Edwards (.347, 41 hits).
- Army West Point is led by interim head coach Jen Consaul, who has been with the program since 2019.
