University of Albany McIntosh's Perfect Game and Powell's No-Hitter Lead Softball in Sweep Over Vermont - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Burlington, Vt. – Leah McIntosh pitched her fourth perfect game of the season and Marissa Powell threw her first career no-hitter in leading UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Vermont in America East Conference softball action at Archie Post Field on Wednesday, April 15. The Great Danes won the first game, 2-0, and the nightcap by a 12-0 score in five innings.

In game one, McIntosh fanned the first eight Vermont (6-28, AE 3-8) hitters she faced and 10 of the first 12. After stranding four runners through five innings, the Great Dane offense came through with two runs in the sixth. Nicole Kothe, who went 2-for-3 in the game, led off with a single to left and advanced to second on an error. Michelle Connors sacrificed her over to third, and Meagan Butsch homered to give UAlbany a 2-0 advantage. It was her sixth of the season and 21st of her career to give her team all the insurance it needed for the win.

UAlbany’s McIntosh, who did not allow the ball to leave the infield and entered the week as the only pitcher in the country to pitch multiple perfect games, improved to 14-1 this season with the victory. It was also the junior’s sixth career no-hitter, a Division I school record. She struck out 15 of the 21 batters she faced.

Vermont’s Jocelyn Abaray, who only allowed the Great Danes to scatter three singles through the first five innings, fell to 3-10 with the loss. She gave up six hits and two runs which were earned while striking out six.

UAlbany wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in game two, plating three runs in the top of the first. Andrianna Walraven and Kothe each reached base on Vermont errors, and Connors sacrificed the pair over to second and third. Meagan Butsch then drove in Walraven and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice when the throw went home.

Jess Bergin then hit into a fielder’s choice which pushed two more runs across on a throwing error by the second baseman. Vermont pitcher Caitlin Mohanahan, who was not charged with an earned run in the inning, retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.

The Great Danes scored two more runs and chased Monahan out of the game in the second. Once again, the squad plated two runs on a throwing error when Kothe hit into a fielder’s choice. Through two innings, UAlbany was ahead by a 5-0 score despite recording just one hit.

UAlbany posted six hits and took advantage of another two Catamount errors to balloon the lead to 12 runs in the third. Gina Mason led off with a single, and came home one play later on an RBI triple by Kristine Bill. Bailey Van Deest followed up with a single to plate Bill, and advanced to third on a single up the middle by Kat Smith to make it 7-0.

Alison Daggett was able to strike out the next two batters, but Connors singled and Smith and Van Deest scored on an infield error. Mason hit a bases-clearing double down the left field line before Abaray came in to punch the final out.

Powell took a perfect game into the fourth before Caroline Goddard struck out swinging and reached first on a wild pitch. However, she was able to record six straight outs to post the fifth no-hitter by a Great Dane pitcher this season, a program-best at the Division I level.

UAlbany’s Powell improved to 11-9 this spring with the victory, recording seven strikeouts. Vermont’s Monahan fell to 1-11 with the loss. She gave up six runs (one earned) on two hits in 1.1 innings of work. Daggett surrendered five hits and six runs (three earned) in 1.1 innings of relief, and Abaray closed out the game by pitching 2.1 shutout frames while striking out five and allowing two doubles hit by Taryn LaColla and Liz Noto.

UAlbany (25-10, AE 6-3) will stay on the road to visit Binghamton for a three-game set over the weekend on April 18-19. The teams are scheduled to start the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.

UAlbany 000 002 0 2 6 0
Vermont 000 000 0 0 0 2

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.
Vermont: Jocelyn Abaray and Jeanine Connolly.

UAlbany (25-10, AE 6-3) 327 00 12 9 0
Vermont (6-28 AE 3-8) 000 00 0 0 6
(Game was called after five innings due to eight-run rule)

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith, Liz Noto (3).
Vermont: Caitlin Monahan, Alison Daggett (2), Caitlin Monahan (3), Jocelyn Abaray (3) and Jeanine Connolly.