University of Albany's Gina Mason Leads Softball to Two Wins at Stetson Invitational - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

DeLand, Fla. – Sophomore first baseman Gina Mason went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored to lead UAlbany to a 7-3 win over Bethune-Cookman in the first game of the second day of play at the Stetson Invitational at Patricia Wilson Field. Mason also recorded a hit and scored a run in the Great Danes’ 2-1 win over the host Hatters in the second game of the day.

UAlbany jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first game by scoring two runs in each of the first two innings. Kristine Bill and Meagan Butsch both recorded stolen bases and scored unearned runs for the Great Danes in the first frame. Jessica Bergin started off the second inning with a lead-off single, followed by a stolen base. After Nicole Kothe drew a walk, the pair recorded a double steal to put themselves in scoring position. Bill then drove a triple into right field to send both baserunners across home plate.

Bethune-Cookman (1-7) pulled within a run, scoring three times in the bottom half of the fifth. Ashley Taylor drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a single by Ashton Hinds. The Wildcats loaded the bases on a UAlbany throwing error and scored the first run of the inning when first baseman Allison Garcia drew a walk off Marissa Powell. Liz Parrish completed the scoring by driving in two runs on a single to center. Powell was able to work out of the inning, striking out Taryn Hernandez.

UAlbany added a single run in the sixth, with freshman Katie Wambold crossing home on a throwing error by the Bethune-Cookman catcher. The Great Danes scored two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, with Mason driving her RBI-triple to left center to score Butsch, who reached on a single. Wambold followed with a double down the left field line, sending Mason across the plate.

Powell tossed a complete game, striking out six over seven innings. Hinds and Parrish both finished with two hits for Bethune-Cookman, while pitcher Chastity Sanders fanned five in a complete-game performance for the Wildcats.

Stetson broke a scoreless tie in the second game, scoring the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. After UAlbany pitcher Leah McIntosh recorded seven strikeouts throughout the first three innings, senior first baseman Andrea Migliori connected on a pitch for a home run over the left field wall. The Great Danes responded in the bottom half of the frame, as Mason recorded a stolen base and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Bergin.

The score remained knotted and went into extra innings before UAlbany plated a run to end the game. The Great Danes loaded the bases once, but Stetson ended the scoring opportunity by tagging Mason at home after Bailey Van Deest knocked a fielder’s choice to short. Bergin then drew a walk off Hatter hurler Amanda Lindsey to send Michelle Connors across home for the winning run.

McIntosh picked up the win in the circle for the Great Danes, striking out 16 and allowing just four hits in eight innings of work. Lindsey finished with nine strikeouts for Stetson (5-3).

UAlbany (3-1) will wrap up play at the Stetson Invitational with a 10 a.m. game versus the Hatters on Sunday.

-agate-

Stetson Invitational

UAlbany 220 001 2 - 7 9 3

Bethune-Cookman (1-7) 000 030 0 - 3 7 4

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.

Bethune-Cookman: Chastity Sanders and Sabrina Ferguson.



Stetson (5-3) 000 100 00 - 1 4 0

UAlbany (3-1) 000 100 01 - 2 4 0

Stetson: Amanda Lindsey and Jessica Lokeinsky.

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.