Siena Softball battled to a thrilling 5-4 victory over crosstown rival UAlbany on Wednesday afternoon at UAlbany Field. Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, the second game was called due to rain at the end of the fourth inning.
 
Siena (6-8, 1-2) was powered by a decisive three-run sixth inning, as the Saints totaled seven hits in the win.
 
In the circle, Violet Marta earned the victory for Siena, pitching six innings and allowing four earned runs on nine hits while issuing one walk and recording one strikeout. Gracie Goewey closed the door in the seventh, allowing just one hit and no runs while facing four batters to earn the save.
 
Emma Petersen led the Saints offensively with a home run, scoring once and driving in a run. Goewey also contributed at the plate with two hits, including a homer immediately following Petersen's, along with an RBI to complement her work in relief. Ella Milante delivered a key two-run double and scored once, while Carlie Venables added a double as part of a 1-for-3 performance.
 
Siena jumped out quickly in the first inning with back-to-back home runs. Petersen opened the scoring with a solo shot to center, and Goewey followed with a blast of her own to give the Saints a 2-0 lead. UAlbany responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to even the score at 2-2.
 
UAlbany (4-8) moved in front in the fourth inning with two runs. Taylor Quinn tripled and later scored on a Deanna Grahek double, before Vanessa Meyers singled home Grahek to give the Great Danes a 4-2 advantage.
 
The Saints answered in the sixth inning to regain the lead. Milante's double drove in Goewey and pinch runner Mary Mikalsen to tie the game, and Gianna DiMeglio followed with an RBI single to score Milante and put Siena ahead 5-4.
 
Marta worked around a one-out walk in the sixth before Goewey entered in the seventh to secure the save and seal the victory.
 
Siena returns to action on Wednesday, March 18, when the Saints travel to face Wagner for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. in Staten Island, NY.