The warmer weather of South Carolina has turned Siena Softball red-hot to open the 2025 season as the Saints swept their Saturday slate at the CSU Kickoff Tournament to move to 4-0 on the young season. The Green and Gold fended off Bellarmine earlier in the day, 9-8, before defeating host Charleston Southern 11-3 in five frames. 
 
This marks the fifth time in the 50-year history of the program that the Saints have started at least 4-0, as well as the second time in the last three seasons under head coach Casey Bump. 
 
Siena 9, Bellarmine 8
 
Gianna DiMeglio was perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with three runs and two RBI. Carlie Venables recorded three hits in four trips while also driving in a pair, while Chloe Cummings went 2-4. Gracie Goewey earned the win following 5.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four and walking one. 
 
As the designated away team, the Saints jumped on the board in the top of the first by way of a Lauren Melton RBI single that scored McKenzie Swinson. The Knights capitalized on costly errors in the bottom half as three of four runs were unearned to take a 4-1 advantage entering the second. 
 
However, the tables turned on Bellarmine in the top half as Siena benefited on fielding errors - scoring three unearned to even the score at 4-4. A two-run home run in the bottom half gave Bellarmine a 6-4 lead that would last until the top of the fourth when Venables singled in DiMeglio to come within one. 
 
The Saints had their big break in the top of the fifth, sending four across the plate which would prove to make the difference in the game. DiMeglio delivered the initial go-ahead two-RBI single to right before Ella Milante pushed the lead to 8-6 on a sacrifice fly. Venables later singled home DiMeglio for the team's ninth run of the game, which proved to be crucial after the Knights plated a pair in the sixth on a two-RBI double. 
 
Goewey finished things off in the seventh, forcing a groundout to second and the final two to third. 
 
Siena 11, CSU 3 (5 Inn.)
 
Emma Petersen went a perfect 4-4 at the plate while Ashley Giampolo and Gianna DiMeglio had multi-hit outings as well. Kaycie Kennedy made her second start of the season and picked up her second win of the weekend. 
 
With two gone in the top of the first, Giampolo and Petersen kept the inning alive with base-hits - setting up a Gracie Goewey RBI single. CSU came back with three in the bottom half to jump ahead by two, until the Saints opened the floodgates in the top of the third. 
 
A 10-run frame started with one out and an infield single off the bat of Petersen, followed by Goewey working a walk. An infield error at shortstop scored pinch runner Mary Mikalsen from second, while DiMeglio evened the score on a base knock. 
 
From there, Carlie Venables singled in the go-ahead run before Lauren Melton cleared the bases on a triple to open the game to 7-4. Giampolo doubled Melton home and subsequently came through on a Petersen single. Chloe Cummings and DiMeglio put the finishing touches on the inning with RBI hits, helping Siena carry an 11-3 lead into the bottom half. 
 
Goewey pitched the following two innings with no damage allowed before Alissa Eimont came on in the fifth looking to end the game early. CSU put its first three runners on base with hopes of extending the game, but Eimont had other plans. The redshirt-junior struck out the fourth batter she faced before pitching into a pair of groundouts to end the night. 
 
The Saints play their final game of the CSU Kickoff Tournament at 10 a.m. Sunday against Georgetown.