UAlbany Softball Sweeps Vermont in America East Doubleheader

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Third baseman Meagan Butsch went 2-for-3 with one run scored in the first game and slammed a home run to left field in the nightcap in leading UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Vermont in America East softball action on Wednesday afternoon at Albany Field. The Great Danes took the first game, 3-2, and won the second by a score of 5-2.

Both teams scored single runs in the first inning of the early contest to hold a 1-1 tie into the fourth frame. UAlbany (17-11, AE 6-2) took a one-run lead in the bottom half of that inning, as Butsch knocked a lead off triple into centerfield. Right fielder Bailey Van Deest recorded an RBI single two batters later to drive in Butsch and give the Great Danes a 2-1 advantage.

UAlbany held onto the lead until the seventh, as Vermont’s Rachelle Eloschuk reached on a fielding error. Eloschuk stole second and was driven home on a double by shortstop Kate Haber. UAlbany pitcher Leah McIntosh struck out Elena Rizza and induced a foul out by Rachelle Boone to end the inning.

The Great Danes were able to get the winning run across in the bottom half of the seventh, as shortstop Andrianna Walraven knocked a single into left to get on the base path. Walraven stole second before left fielder Amber Maisonet drew a walk off Vermont’s Aimee Kern, who entered the game in relief. Following a double steal by the baserunners, third baseman Whitney Borisenok could not get a glove on the throw from Boone, allowing Walraven to score the game-ending run.

McIntosh threw her 12th complete game of the season, striking out nine Vermont batters and improving to 10-3. Daggett took the loss for the Catamounts, fanning three in 6.1 innings of work.

Game two went scoreless until the UAlbany half of the fourth inning, as Butsch drove a lead-off homer off the scoreboard in left field to give the Great Danes a 1-0 lead. Kern, who started in the circle for Vermont, then walked Gina Mason, the next batter in the lineup, and allowed a single by Kat Smith. Smith advanced to second on an error by Vermont third baseman Jeanine Connolly, which also allowed pinch runner Tara Dalton to score.

The Catamounts answered in the top of the fifth, as Laura Stagliano reached on a UAlbany error, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. In the following at bat, second baseman Hayley Crosby knocked a home run to left centerfield to tie the game at 2-2.

UAlbany put up three runs in the bottom of the sixth to break the tie, led off by a single up the middle by Van Deest. Van Deest was replaced on the base path by Jessica Bergin, who was knocked over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Smith. Bergin advanced to third on a ground out by Leanne Tillman, and scored on a fielding error by the third baseman, which also allowed Walraven to get on base. Maisonet reached first on an error by the shortstop, advancing Walraven, and the baserunners moved ahead again on a wild pitch. Centerfielder Nicole Kothe drove a single up the middle to score both runners, but was caught stealing to end the inning.

UAlbany pitcher Marissa Powell, who tossed a complete game, made quick work of the final frame to seal the victory for the Great Danes. Powell fanned eight Catamount batters in her seven inning performance, walking two, and improving to 5-7 on the season. Kern tossed six innings for Vermont (9-18, AE 1-7), fanning three.

The Great Danes return to action on Saturday, April 12, hosting Maine in a three-game conference series.

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Vermont 100 000 1 - 2 5 3

UAlbany 100 100 1 - 3 6 1

Vermont: Alison Daggett, Aimee Kern (7) and Rachelle Boone.

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.



Vermont (9-18, AE 1-7) 000 020 0 - 2 9 3

UAlbany (17-11, AE 6-2) 000 203 x - 5 6 1

Vermont: Aimee Kern and Rachelle Boone.

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.