BUFFALO, NY – Siena Softball battled another perennial conference contender in its second straight year with a trip to Canisius on Saturday. The Saints (22-15, 7-6) dropped both games of a doubleheader to begin a three-game series at Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo to the tune of 4-0 and 6-5 losses.
Canisius 4, Siena 0
After splitting last year's regular season doubleheader, Canisius dealt Siena its second shutout loss of the year to begin the day, with two runs coming across in the first inning via a solo home run and an RBI double. Working behind a ten-strikeout day from Megan Giese in the circle, the home team struck again with an RBI single in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth.
Canisius held an 8-3 hits advantage, with junior
McKenzie Swinson, junior
Madi Silber, and sophomore
Emma Petersen each logging hits for the visitors. Redshirt sophomore pitcher
Alissa Eimont (13-5) struck out four in a complete game loss in the circle.
Canisius 6, Siena 5
The Saints' offense found its stride to begin the second game, with Swinson reaching home on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first. Canisius countered with an RBI ground out in the home half of the inning, but a bases-loaded hit by pitch to score freshman
Avamarie Perry and an RBI ground out from Petersen gave Siena a 3-1 lead after two.
Fifth year
Jocelyn Ulrich further extended the lead with a solo home run deep to center field in the third inning, and following an RBI single from the home team to being the score back to a one-run game, she struck again by running out an RBI single in the fourth to score senior
Isabella Pardo and give Siena 5-3 lead after four. Canisius tied the game on a 2 RBI double down the right field line in the sixth, and won it on a walkoff RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to secure the sweep.
Siena fell despite holding a 9-7 hits advantage, with Swinson, Petersen, and Ulrich each logging multi-hit days. Despite fanning eight in the circle, graduate student
Nicole Patille (7-3) took a complete game loss in the circle.
The Saints will look to salvage a game in the weekend series with one final matchup on Sunday, April 21 at Noon.
