Siena Softball split a pair of tightly contested games Saturday, falling 2-1 to Illinois State University before bouncing back with a dramatic 8-7 extra-inning victory over Colgate University. The Saints showed resilience throughout the day, highlighted by a late comeback and dominant relief pitching to secure the win in game two.
 
The games came after Siena's Friday slate was washed out due to rain in the area.
 
Illinois State 2, Siena 1
Siena (3-4) opened the day with a pitcher's duel against Illinois State (9-6). The Redbirds took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Atkinson and added what proved to be the decisive run in the third when Meeks doubled home Calhoun to make it 2-0.
 
The Saints broke through in the fourth. Megan Klein sparked the rally with a bunt single and Emma Petersen followed with a base hit to put two aboard. Emmalynn Skaff delivered an RBI single to score Klein and cut the deficit to 2-1. Siena threatened late but was unable to push across the tying run.
 
Violet Marta delivered a strong complete-game effort in the circle, allowing two earned runs on eight hits over seven innings. She struck out two, walked one, and kept the Redbirds off balance by inducing 12 flyouts and seven groundouts.
 
Klein and Petersen each recorded two hits to lead the offense, with Klein scoring Siena's lone run.
 
Siena 8, Colgate 7 (8 Inn.)
The Saints responded in thrilling fashion in the nightcap, overcoming a four-run deficit and three Colgate home runs to claim an 8-7 win in eight innings.
 
Siena jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Ashlee Sweet singled and moved up on Carlie Venables' double before Megan Klein reached on a throwing error that allowed both runners to score. Chloe Cummings followed with an RBI single to plate Klein and cap the inning.
 
Colgate answered with four runs in the third, powered by a solo homer from Megenity and a two-run shot by Cascio to take a 4-3 lead. The Raiders extended their advantage to 7-3 in the fourth with three unearned runs, including a three-run homer by Raffaelli.
 
Siena began its comeback in the fifth when Cali DeLawder launched a solo home run to cut the deficit to 7-4. The Saints capitalized on defensive miscues in the sixth, scoring three unearned runs to tie the game. Chloe Cummings and Lauren Melton scored on fielding errors, and DeLawder added an RBI single to even the score at 7-7.
 
After a scoreless seventh inning, Siena took advantage of the international tiebreaker in the eighth. With Melton placed on second to begin the frame, she advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Cummings' fielder's choice to give the Saints an 8-7 lead.
 
Marta was dominant in relief, tossing three hitless innings to earn the win. She allowed just one walk and struck out one to seal the comeback. Kaytlin Stephens contributed 2.1 innings, allowing one hit and three unearned runs, while Jordan Strauss and Valerie Pedersen handled the early innings.
 
DeLawder led the offense with three hits and two RBIs, including her home run. Cummings added two hits and two RBIs, while Klein scored twice.
 
Siena returns to action Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in Madeira Beach, FL, against UIC.