Siena Softball and the Central Connecticut (CCSU) Blue Devils met on Thursday afternoon for the first time in three seasons. The Saints and Blue Devils split the twin bill in New Britain, CT, with Siena taking game one in five innings, 9-0, before CCSU responded with a 5-2 victory in the second game.
Siena 9, CCSU 0 (5)
The Saints jumped on the Blue Devils early with three runs in the top of the first, courtesy of a
Gracie Goewey RBI single, and a two-RBI double off the bat of
Emma Petersen.
McKenzie Swinson added to the lead in the second with a two-run home run off the left field foul pole, quickly putting the Saints up 5-0.
RBI extra-base hits by Swinson,
Gianna DiMeglio, and
Lauren Melton highlighted a four-run Siena third inning to push the team's lead to 9-0 for starting pitcher
Alissa Eimont. While that would be all for the offense, it turned out one run was all Eimont would even need in the game.
She went on to blank CCSU over the five-inning game, striking out eight batters while walking just two over 21 batters faced.
CCSU 5, Siena 2
Emma Petersen got things going in the first, driving in
Gracie Goewey on an RBI single to hand the Saints an early 1-0 lead.
Kaycie Kennedy allowed a one-out single in the bottom half and locked in from there, retiring eight consecutive Blue Devils through the third inning until receiving some more run support in the fourth.
With Petersen on third and one away,
Ashley Giampolo delivered a base hit up the middle to extend the Siena lead to 2-0.
The insurance run came in handy in the home half of the fourth. CCSU opened the inning with a single which was immediately followed by a two-run home run to left field to tie the game at 2-2. However, the Blue Devils added two on a double before Eimont replaced Kennedy in the circle. Following the change, one more came in to score to put CCSU ahead 5-2 entering the fifth.
The Saints looked to chip away at their deficit in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded an two away but came up empty in the frame. Siena also stranded one in the sixth, but kept the Blue Devils at bay throughout to enter the seventh inning still facing a three-run hole. CCSU would set the Saints down in order in the seventh to cap off the game two win.
The Saints are set to make their first appearance in the Empire State on Saturday when the team travels to Hamilton, NY, for a pair against Colgate. Game one of the twin bill is set for noon.
