LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Softball celebrated Senior Day at Siena Softball Field by rounding out a successful 12-4 home campaign in 2023 and tying the single-season program record for wins set just last season. The Saints (31-15, 11-5) dropped a 3-0 decision to MAAC foe Niagara (7-28, 3-11) before taking a 6-4 victory to secure a series split in Loudonville on Friday afternoon.  

Niagara 3, Siena 0

Competing two days earlier than originally scheduled due to impending inclement weather and taking the field in Loudonville for the first time since 2018, the teams battled through two scoreless innings before the Purple Eagles strung together consecutive frames of runs. Niagara used a pair of RBI singles in the third and an RBI double in the fourth to pull ahead and not look back after being swept by Saint Peter's in its most recent action.

The visiting team gelled behind pitcher Maddi Hickingbottom, who tossed nine strikeouts in a complete game victory in the circle. Siena stranded six runners during the game and was out-hit, 9-6, with junior Isabella Pardo going a perfect 3-3 offensively to lead the team. Redshirt-freshman pitcher Alissa Eimont (10-5) took the complete game loss with three earned runs allowed and five strikeouts.

Siena 6, Niagara 4

Siena responded from only its second shutout loss of the season by racking up four runs over the first two innings during the second game. After celebrating her Senior Day ceremony as one of seven graduating Siena members honored, senior Angelina Stile took a pitch in her first at-bat for a ride, with a two-run one-hopper off the fence in left center putting Siena up early and giving the local product her first home run of the season.

Freshman Emma Petersen extended Siena's lead in the second by plating sophomore Ashley Giampolo on an RBI ground out, while senior Shannon Bonewit scored on a wild pitch later in the inning. Niagara fired back with three runs of its own in the bottom of the third off a pair of RBI singles, but the Saints stranded four runs over the next three innings defensively to keep the lead out of reach for the visiting team.

Siena struck again on the board in the sixth with senior Jocelyn Ulrich sending in sophomore Emmalynn Skaff on an RBI ground out and senior Emma McLaughlin allowing graduate student Sabrina Vargas to cross home on an RBI single. Niagara had one more run in store with an RBI single in the seventh, but stranded the bases loaded to end the game and ensure the split.

The Saints claimed victory despite being out-hit, 8-6, with Stile going 2-3 to steady the team offensively. Fitzmaurice (13-5) struck out seven in the complete game win to tie for the third-most pitching wins in a single season in program history. Niagara's Cara Leone (1-8) took the loss with one strikeout in five innings of work.

Siena's final two conference doubleheaders will come next weekend on the road, beginning at Fairfield on Friday, May 5 at 1 & 3 PM.