Powell and Rose Pitch UAlbany to Doubleheader Sweep of Iona

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Marissa Powell and Brittany Rose each pitched a complete game to lead UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Iona in non-conference softball action on Wednesday, April 2 at Albany Field. The Great Danes took the opener 4-0 and topped the Gaels 11-2 in five innings in the nightcap.

In the second inning of the opener, UAlbany jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind the efforts of senior Amber Maisonet. Following two walks and a pair of successful sacrifice bunts that put runners on second and third, Maisonet laced a triple down the right field line to plate Gina Mason and Jessica Bergen. During the next at bat, Maisonet stole home as the catcher was throwing the ball back to the pitcher.

The Great Danes tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore Michelle Connors doubled down the right field line with one out. Following an out, junior Meagan Butsch doubled to the gap in left center to knock in Connors.

Powell went the distance in the circle for the Great Danes, striking out nine, while allowing just four hits to pick up her fourth win of the season. Becky Riccitelli took the loss for the Gaels, allowing four runs on four hits, to go with six strikeouts.

In the nightcap, UAlbany exploded for nine runs in the first two innings. The Great Danes used five consecutive singles to start the first inning. Maisonet scored the first run of the frame as she stole third and advanced home on a throwing error by the catcher. Connors followed with a single to right field to plate Nicole Kothe. On a single up the middle by Mason, an errant throw by the centerfielder allowed Connors and Butsch to score and Mason to end up on third. Senior Leanne Tillman plated Mason with the Great Danes’ fifth run of the inning as she reached on a fielding error.

UAlbany (13-10) struck for four runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning. Kothe and Connors led off the frame with a walk and a single. After a passed ball allowed the runners to advance a base, Butsch drilled a triple over the centerfielder’s head to drive home Kothe and Connors. Mason followed with a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Butsch. Following back-to-back singles by Tillman and Bergin and a wild pitch, sophomore Kat Smith grounded out to the pitcher to score Tillman.

Iona (6-18) cut into UAlbany’s lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Gaels loaded the bases on two errors and an infield single. Paige Cauley then drew a walk to plate Lolli Mills. Amanda Glaser delivered a single to left to score Riccitelli.

The Great Danes got the two runs back in their half of the fourth. Tillman led off with a single down the left field line. After a wild pitch and a walk to Bergin, Smith executed a sac bunt to move Bergin and pinch runner Tara Dalton into scoring position. Pinch hitter Bailey Van Deest singled up the middle to drive in Dalton. Two batters later, Bergin scored on a wild pitch to deliver the final score.

Rose struck out a career-best 10 batters over five innings, yielding just two unearned runs on two hits, to record her second win of the season. Katie Jo Passero suffered the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits in an inning of action.

The Great Danes return to action in America East play on Saturday, April 5 at UMBC at 1:00 p.m.