CHARLESTON, SC – After falling in its first two contests of the season, Siena Softball rebounded to get to .500 on the weekend with a separate admission doubleheader sweep to continue action at the CSU Kickoff Tournament on Saturday. The Saints (2-2) grinded out wins over Bellarmine – 4-3 in eight innings, and host Charleston Southern – 4-2 – at the CSU Softball Complex in Charleston, South Carolina.

Siena 4, Bellarmine 3 (8)

Just 24 hours after facing the Knights for the first time ever, the Green and Gold got off to an early lead thanks to a walk and a passed ball that allowed senior Isabella Pardo to score from third. Bellarmine responded with a pair of runs in the second off an RBI single and a hit by pitch to hold a 2-1 lead through the middle innings.

Silber struck again to force an unconventional run to score by fouling out in the bottom of the fifth, which prompted freshman Carlie Venables to come home and tie the game off the sacrifice fly. Junior McKenzie Swinson came home to score off an RBI single from classmate Ashley Giampolo later in the frame to give the Saints a 3-2 lead after five.

The Knights were quick to answer with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to set up the Saints' first extra-inning affair of the year. After stranding a pair of runners on-base defensively in the eighth, the designated home team talked off thanks to an RBI single from Giampolo that sent home Swinson to score.

Siena claimed victory despite being out-hit, 7-4, with Giampolo and Swinson each recording multi-hit outings. Making her start in as many games, freshman pitcher Gracie Goewey (1-1) struck out a pair in a lasting complete game victory in the circle, while Bellarmine's Claire Lehmkuhler (1-1) took the loss with three strikeouts in five and one-third innings of relief.

Siena 4, Charleston Southern 2

The Green and Gold took the field later in the afternoon for their first-ever meeting with the host Buccaneers, playing the home team to no score through three innings before cracking onto the board in the top of the fourth thanks to RBI singles from Giampolo and freshman Avamarie Perry. The home team countered with RBI singles in the home halves of the fifth and sixth to take Siena to the brink, down 3-2.

Faced with a do-or-die situation in the top of the seventh, Siena got runners to second and third for Silber, who strung a 2 RBI single to left field to send in Swinson and senior Mikala Fletcher for the tying and go-ahead runs. Charleston Southern got a run to second, but could not advance them to seal the doubleheader sweep for the Saints.

Siena held an 8-7 hits advantage with Swinson recording another multi-hit outing. Graduate student pitcher Nicole Patille tossed three strikeouts over four innings to give way to a three-inning relief win for redshirt-sophomore Alissa Eimont (1-1), who struck out a pair. Charleston Southern's Riley Lauffer (0-1) took a complete game loss with three strikeouts.

Siena will conclude weekend action at the CSU Kickoff Tournament on Sunday, February 11 against Saint Francis (PA) at 10 AM.