In the first meeting between Siena Softball and its American Athletic Conference foe South Florida (USF) Bulls since 2006, the Saints responded from a 7-1 game one loss for a 6-1 victory in the latter of the twin bill from USF Softball Stadium in Tampa, FL, Wednesday evening. The game two victory marked Siena's first win over USF in its fifth try - having fallen to the Bulls three times in 2006, and in game one of the doubleheader Wednesday. 
 
USF 7, Siena 1
 
The Bulls set the Saints down in order in the top half of the first before gaining an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the home half. USF looked to add in the second with a two out walk and single, but Alissa Eimont forced a groundout to escape the frame. 
 
In the third, however, the Bulls led off with a base-hit before immediately connecting for a two-run home run to extend their lead to 3-0. 
 
Lauren Melton produced Siena's first hit in the fourth on an old-fashioned hustle play, beating out an infield single to second base with a head-first dive into the bag. She was initially called out, but replay review overturned the call. Melton proceeded to swipe second and advance to third on a throwing error, before Emma Petersen brought her in on a sacrifice fly to right. 
 
USF got two back in the bottom half to jump back ahead 5-1. The Saints looked to make a dent in their deficit in the top of the fifth with three straight two-out singles by Ella Milante, McKenzie Swinson, and Chloe Cummings, but the Bulls escaped the jam. 
 
The Saints allowed two more in the bottom half of the fifth inning before coming up empty in their final two tries at the dish. 
 
Siena 6, USF 1
 
Kaycie Kennedy twirled a gem in game two, going the distance with an unearned run allowed on four hits and three walks. Backed by her fielders, the senior picked up the complete game win without striking out a Bull. 
 
Gracie Goewey opened game two with a bang, putting the Saints up 1-0 with a two-out solo shot in the top of the first. The Bulls responded in the bottom half, scoring an unearned run on an infield error following a one-out double. 
 
From there, pitchers Kennedy and Anne Long engaged in a duel over the ensuing four innings. Kennedy limited USF to a pair of hits while the Saints were held without one until breaking loose in the top of the sixth. 
 
It was there Siena's bats came alive for a five-run frame. Chloe Cummings and Lauren Melton got things going with back-to-back singles, setting up Goewey to bring in Cummings on an infield single to third with some help on the reception at first base. Goewey later came home on a Madi Silber base knock before Cali DeLawder drove in a pair on a double to the right field gap. Ashlee Sweet capped off the scoring sweep with a RBI hit, granting the Saints a 6-1 lead entering the home half. 
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Kennedy worked around back-to-back one out walks to escape the inning. The senior allowed a leadoff single in the seventh before the next batter hit into a fielder's choice at second base for the first out. Then on a fly ball to Sweet in right for the second out, the freshman relayed the ball in to Ashley Giampolo at second, who tossed out the runner retreating to first for the game-ending double play.  
 
The Saints remain in Florida for its second round of games in Madeira Beach, starting on Friday with an 11 a.m. contest against Chattanooga, and a 1:30 p.m. game against Central Michigan.