Siena Softball opened the 2026 season with a split at the CSU Kickoff Friday, falling in a one-run thriller to St. John's before rebounding with a comeback win over host Charleston Southern.
 
St. John's 8, Siena 7
In the opener, Siena fell behind early as St. John's built a 4-0 lead through four innings. The Saints answered in the fifth with a four-run rally to tie the game. Megan Klein's fielder's choice scored Carlie Venables, followed by a two-run double from Gracie Goewey that brought home Klein and Lauren Melton.
 
Emma Petersen then added an RBI single to knot the score at 4-4. St. John's regained the lead in the sixth, but Siena came back in the seventh, taking a 7-6 lead on Petersen's solo home run and two unearned runs scored on a St. John's error.
 
The Red Storm responded with a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh, handing Siena a narrow 8-7 defeat.
 
Petersen finished with two hits and two RBIs, Melton added two hits and a run scored, and Ella Milante contributed a triple and a walk. Gracie Goewey pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out three.
 
Siena 9, CSU 6
Siena bounced back in the nightcap against Charleston Southern. The Saints scored three runs in the first inning, with Goewey singling home Klein and Petersen following with a two-run homer to center field.
 
After Charleston Southern tied the game at 3-3, Siena broke through in the sixth with a five-run surge. Arianna DeCotis' bases-loaded walk forced in Gianna DiMeglio, and a subsequent bases-loaded walk from Chloe Cummings scored Carlie Venables. Goewey followed with a bases-loaded walk of her own to bring in Lauren Melton, then Petersen reached on a fielder's choice to plate Klein. Ella Milante reached on an error, allowing Cummings to score the go-ahead run.
 
Siena added an insurance run in the seventh when Cummings singled through the left side, driving in Venables. Petersen finished with two hits and three RBIs, Cummings drove in two and reached base three times, and Goewey contributed two RBIs. Violet Marta earned the win in relief, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings.
 
With the split, Siena improves to 1-1 on the season and will face Central Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. at Patriots Point on the campus of College of Charleston.