POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Call it the power of Poughkeepsie. For only the second time in program history and the first since the 2019 MAAC Softball Championship also hosted by Marist, Siena Softball is into the winner's bracket to kick off the postseason. The No. 6 seed Saints (30-20) defeated No. 3 Rider (24-26), 5-1 in Opening Round action of the 2024 MAAC Softball Championship at Softball Park at Gartland Athletic Field in Poughkeepsie, New York on Wednesday morning.

Taking the field as the No. 6 seed for the first time since 1993, the Green and Gold improved to 2-0 all-time over the Broncs in postseason play, and now advance to the MAAC Quarterfinals to face No. 2 Niagara on Thursday morning. The victory also served as the team's 30^th win of the season, making Siena the only team in the MAAC to reach 30 wins in each of the last three years.

Winners of seven of their final eight games to close the regular season and having taken two of three regular season meetings over Rider, Siena began the slightly-delayed contest with a bang, putting two runners on the paths for sophomore Emma Petersen to launch her fifth home run of the season in the form of a three-run blast to center field. Newly-minted Second Team All-MAAC selection Alissa Eimont then took over in the circle, getting the designated visitors through three innings with a 3-0 lead.

Siena then forced Rider starting pitcher Jessie Niegocki from the game in the fourth by way of two more runs scoring, with senior Mikala Fletcher driving an RBI triple deep to the right field fence to score junior Madi Silber, while junior McKenzie Swinson scored Fletcher on an RBI single. Rider got a run back on the board via a solo shot in the home half of the fifth, but Eimont and the defense slammed the door to secure the win.

The Saints held a slight 5-4 hits advantage, with Petersen, Fletcher, Swinson, freshman Chloe Cummings, and fifth year Jocelyn Ulrich each recording a knock. Eimont (17-8) capped a remarkable stretch of 16.1 straight scoreless innings thrown against the Broncs prior to the home run, finishing with two strikeouts to earn her league-leading 17^th win of the year.

Siena will look to avenge being swept in a three-game series by Niagara during the regular season when they face off against the Purple Eagles in postseason play for the first time since 2019 on Thursday at 11 AM. The Saints are 0-4 against their next foe all-time in postseason play, and will look to advance to the MAAC Semifinals for the first time ever out of the winner's bracket and what would be the second time overall in the last three seasons.