University of Albany Softball Completes Sweep of Maine, 10-9, in America East Showdown

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Freshman shortstop Andrianna Walraven knocked a no-out, walk-off single past the second baseman to score Nicole Kothe in leading UAlbany to a 10-9 win over Maine in America East Conference softball action on Sunday afternoon at Albany Field. The Great Danes swept the three-game weekend series.

Kothe’s run capped a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Great Danes the come-from-behind victory. Down 9-6 entering the bottom half of the frame, first baseman Gina Mason led off with a single to left field. Catcher Leanne Tillman reached on a fielder’s choice, and Mason was safe at second after a throwing error. Right fielder Jessica Bergin walked to load the bases, and Mason scored the first run of the inning on a fielder’s choice by Kothe, who reached first safely to keep the bases juiced. Left fielder Amber Maisonet drew her team even at nine apiece with a two-rn double down the left field line, scoring pinch runner Kristine Bill and Bergin. With no outs, Walraven hit a 2-2 pitch through the infield, sending Kothe home for the winning run.

UAlbany (20-11, AE 8-1) found themselves in a 8-0 hole after Maine, who led off the game with a first-pitch home run by Alexis Souhlaris, posted seven runs in the top of the third. Shortstop Ashley Waters and first baseman Kirstin Allen both knocked two-RBI doubles off starting pitcher Marissa Powell to get the Black Bears started in the frame. Freshman Brittany Rose came into the circle in relief, but hit her first batter faced and allowed a two-run double by Erin Iandoli. Melinda Corssino drove in Iandoli on an infield single, but Rose induced a groundout by Souhlaris to end the inning.

The Great Danes cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame, as second baseman Michelle Connors hit a two-run homer over the fence in centerfield to score Maisonet, who reached on a bunt single. Third baseman Meagan Butsch was hit by a pitch and designated player Bailey Van Deest knocked a single to left to put runners in scoring position. Mason smacked a double into center field to score the base runners in slicing the lead to 8-4.

UAlbany added two more runs in the fourth as Walraven chase home a pair with a double into left, scoring Kothe and Bergin, who started the inning with back-to-back singles. The Black Bears scored one run in their half of the sixth on an RBI single by Waters, to hold a 9-6 advantage before UAlbany’s late-inning rally.

Jenna Balent tossed 3.1 innings for Maine (5-34, AE 5-6) before being relieved by Christine McGivney, who fanned two opposing batters in 2.2 innings of work. UAlbany’s Powell struck out three batters, while Rose recorded three strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

The Great Danes will return to action on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., hosting America East-rival Binghamton in the continuation of an early-season series that was suspended due to weather.

-agate-

Maine (5-34, AE 5-6) 107 001 0 - 9 12 1

UAlbany (20-11, AE 8-1) 004 200 4 - 10 14 0

(no outs when winning run scored)

Maine: Jenna Balent, Christine McGivney (4) and Whitney Spangler.

UAlbany: Marissa Powell, Brittany Rose (3) and Leanne Tillman.