BUFFALO, NY – Just about a year after shocking the conference with an unprecedented run to its first-ever MAAC Championship Game, Siena Softball will aim to further establish itself as a perennial contender in the league this week, as it heads back to the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, New York for the 2023 MAAC Championship.

Entering the week as the No. 5 seed, the Saints (32-19, 11-9) will take the field for the first time in the double elimination tournament on Wednesday, May 10 against No. 4 Fairfield (21-23, 11-9) at 1:30 PM, with the winner advancing to the winner's bracket to face Regular Season Champions Canisius the following day and the loser playing immediately after in an elimination game at 4 PM.

The entirety of the 2023 MAAC Softball Championship will be streamed live on ESPN+. 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.

The Field:

• #1 Canisius (28-14-1, 17-3); vs. Siena – Split series on April 8 at Canisius (Siena W, 7-6 / Canisius W, 6-3)
• #2 Mount St. Mary's (32-17, 15-5); vs. Siena – Swept Siena on April 22 and April 24 at Mount St. Mary's (2-1, 3-2)
• #3 Marist (25-28, 12-8); vs. Siena – Split series on April 15 at Siena (Siena W, 5-3 (11) / Marist W, 8-5)
• #4 Fairfield (21-23, 11-9) vs. Siena – Swept Siena on May 5 at Fairfield (8-0 (6), 4-1)
• #5 Siena (32-19, 11-9); vs. The Field: 2-8
• #6 Iona (18-29-1, 10-10); vs. Siena – Swept Siena on May 6 at Iona (4-3, 15-5 (5))

Siena in the MAAC Championship:

• 14^th appearance; 6^th straight in eligible years (excl. 2020)
• Overall: 9-26
  • After losing last year's opening round game to Fairfield, the Saints embarked on an unprecedented run of wins in four straight elimination games to advance to the MAAC Championship Game for the first time ever. Siena has only won multiple MAAC Tournament games in two prior tournaments, with both (2015, 2022) taking place in Buffalo at Canisius.
• Opening Round: 1-11
  • Siena will look to win a game in the MAAC Tournament's opening round for only the second time ever, with the first coming in the form of a 1-0 win over Fairfield in 2019.
• In Buffalo: 6-8 (2022, 2015, 1993, 1992)
• Against Canisius: 0-2 (last: 2022)
• Against Mount St. Mary's: 0-0
• Against Marist: 1-1 (last: 2022)
• Against Fairfield: 3-6 (last: 2022)
• Against Iona: 3-2 (last: 2022)
• Against #1 seed: 0-4 (last: 2022)
• Against #2 seed: 2-4 (last: 2022)
• Against #3 seed: 1-2 (last: 2015)
• Against #4 seed: 1-5 (last: 2022)
• Against #6 seed: 3-4 (last 2022)
• As the #5 seed: 0-2 (second time – 2021)

Siena Against Possible Opponents

• Against Canisius: 20-43 (CAN W1)
• Against Mount St. Mary's: 1-2 (MSM W2)
• Against Marist: 26-40 (MAR W1)
• Against Fairfield: 26-45 (FFD W2)
• Against Iona: 25-50 (ION W2)

Starting Lineup: Quick Hits

• Siena will aim to advance to the winner's bracket for just the second time in program history, and will look to conclude a four-game losing skid out of the regular season. The Saints took on a pair of league opponents who needed to win to punch their tickets to Buffalo, and were subject to doubleheader sweeps at Fairfield and Iona last weekend. The Green and Gold claimed victories over both squads en-route to last year's MAAC Championship run.
• The Saints are on the verge of setting the single-season program record for wins for the second straight season, having tied last year's 32-win mark during the regular season. The team previously set the single-season record for stolen bases, and currently rank third in the league with 85 swipes this season. The team has also drawn the third-most walks in program history (139) and tied for the fourth-most triples (nine).
• Individually, sophomore McKenzie Swinson owns the single-season stolen base record with 20 swipes this season, while graduate student Ava Fitzmaurice (18), graduate student Sabrina Vargas (13), junior Isabella Pardo (11) and junior Mikala Fletcher (ten) are also in double-figures in the stat. Additionally, Fitzmaurice is three RBI's away from setting the team single-season record.
• The team saw three players take home MAAC postseason awards on Tuesday, with Fitzmaurice and Pardo named Second Team All-MAAC selections in the outfield, while redshirt-freshman pitcher Alissa Eimont was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. The outfielder pair both took home Second Team honors for the second straight season.
• Siena ranks second in the league in fielding percentage (.967) and shutouts (8), as well as third in on-base percentage (.353) entering the postseason. Individually, Vargas is fourth nationally in sacrifice bunts per-game (0.34) and fifth nationally in hit by pitch per-game (0.36), while Fitzmaurice is second in RBI's, Pardo is fifth in runs, and the pair are tied for fifth in hits with 55 apiece.
•  Siena has eclipsed the 20-win mark in a single campaign for the 11th time in program history, the 30-win mark for the second straight year, and reached double-digit home victories for the fourth straight eligible year.
• The Saints have also played road warriors this year, setting the program record for road wins in a single season for the second straight year with 14. Siena's victories this year have come in eight different states and provinces, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Florida, and California.
• Siena began the 2023 season with its best start in program history to-date, winning each of its first six contests of the year from February 10-24.
• Four different Saints earned five MAAC weekly awards this season, with Fitzmaurice claiming MAAC Offensive Player of the Week on April 11 and February 14, senior Nicole Patille winning MAAC Pitcher of the Week on February 14, Eimont taking home MAAC Co-Rookie of the Week on April 4, and Emma Petersen earning MAAC Rookie of the Week honors on February 14.