LOUDONVILLE, NY – Following its first 28 games of the 2024 season away from home, Siena Softball finally got back on Siena Softball Field for the first time this year on Tuesday afternoon. The Saints (19-11, 5-3) took a 2-1 win in its home opener over MAAC foe Marist (26-11, 8-3) before dropping a run-rule 10-2 decision in the nightcap to start a three-game series at Siena Softball Field.

Siena 2, Marist 1

Beginning its first of 15 currently scheduled home contests, the Green and Gold struck first in what turned out to be a low-scoring affair, with freshman Carlie Venables recording a bases-loaded RBI single to send home sophomore Emma Petersen in the bottom of the second.

Marist stranded one runner on the basepaths in the fourth and fifth innings before tying the game off a solo home run from Miah McDonald in the top of the sixth. Siena stranded two runners defensively to set the stage for junior Madi Silber to single up the middle and send in pinch-runner Mary Mikalsen to score the go-ahead run in the home half of the inning.
Both teams recorded six hits, with Petersen and Venables recording multiple knocks for the home team. Redshirt-sophomore Alissa Eimont (11-4) shined in a complete-game win, striking out four with just a single earned run allowed.

Marist 10, Siena 2 (5)

The league's defending champion and preseason favorite, the Red Foxes four their offensive stride in the nightcap, beginning with an RBI groundout in the top of the first. Following a scoreless second inning, the visitors exploded with three home runs to left center field to add six runs to the board in the third. A sacrifice fly and RBI single in the top of the fourth extended Marist's lead to nine through three-and-a-half innings.

Siena found some scoring in the home half of the fourth via an RBI double from junior Ashley Giampolo that plated senior Isabella Pardo, and another RBI single from Silber that scored Giampolo. Marist found one more run in the top of the fifth and turned down the Saints in order to induce a run-rule victory to end the day.

The Red Foxes held a 10-3 hits advantage, with Silber, Giampolo, and junior McKenzie Swinson recording knocks for the home team. Graduate student Nicole Patille (6-2) surrendered seven runs in two and two-thirds innings, while freshman Hailey Francois struck out one batter in the final two and one-third frames.

Siena and Marist will decide the series in a rubber match at Siena Softball Field on Wednesday, April 10 at 2 PM.