University of Albany Softball Sweeps Bryant University In Doubleheader - UAlbany Sports 2009

Marissa Powell pitched 11 scoreless innings and picked up two more wins in the circle for the second straight day in leading UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Bryant on Wednesday, April 29 at Albany Field. The Great Danes took game one, 2-0, and won the nightcap by a 1-0 score.

In game one, UAlbany pushed a run across in the bottom of the first. Walraven led off with a walk and stole second before Kristine Bill singled up the middle to put runners on the corners for Meagan Butsch. The senior hit a grounder to second base and reached on a fielder’s choice, which allowed Walraven to score. Jess Bergin singled two plays later, but Butsch was thrown out at home to end the inning.

The Great Danes added their second run for insurance in the bottom of the sixth. Butsch led off with a walk, and advanced two bases on the next play when Gina Mason grounded out to third. She came home when Bergin grounded out to the shortstop. Powell, who at one point retired 11 consecutive batters, induced two groundouts and fanned Kim Leonard to close out the victory in the seventh.

UAlbany’s Powell improved to 16-9 at the time with the three-hit shutout. It was her fifth of the season and second in as many days. She recorded eight strikeouts and issued only one walk. Samantha Houseal of Bryant (11-30) fell to 11-25 at the time with the loss. She allowed three hits, two runs which were earned and issued three walks while striking out four.

The Great Danes got all the offense they needed in the nightcap when Michelle Connors homered to left in the bottom of the second. After Powell made it through four innings by only surrendering a single, Leah McIntosh came on in relief for the final three frames to seal the team’s fifth consecutive win.

Powell was credited with the victory in game two, improving her ledger to 17-9. She has now won 15 of her last 17 decisions. The junior gave up one hit in four innings of work and did not issue a walk. McIntosh hurled the last three innings and picked up her third save of the season. She yielded only one hit and one walk while striking out seven. Houseal ended the afternoon with a record of 11-26 despite allowing only three runs to score in the twinbill. She allowed five hits and one run which was earned while striking out one batter. In addition, the Bulldog ace did not issue any walks.

With playoff hopes on the line, UAlbany (35-12) will wrap up the regular season when it hosts first-place Stony Brook in a three-game series this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, and conclude the weekend with a single game on Sunday, May 3 at noon.