Softball Splits Games With Mount St. Mary's and Cornell at George Mason Tournament

Fairfax, Va. - Kat Smith had two doubles and drove in a pair of runs and Leah McIntosh fanned six batters in her season debut in the circle to lead the UAlbany softball team to an 8-1 victory over Mount St. Mary's at George Mason's Cherry Blossom Classic on Sunday, March 14. The Great Danes lost to Cornell by a 9-1 decision earlier in the day.

UAlbany took an early lead against the Mountaineers by scoring one run in the bottom of the first and plating two in the second. Andrianna Walraven drew a walk to open the game, stole second and was sacrificed over to third by Nicole Kothe. The junior shortstop scored the game's first run courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Michelle Connors. Batting with two outs in the second frame with runners on second and third, Walraven hit a two-run single to right which plated Jessica Bergin and Diane MacDowell.

Mount St. Mary's (11-6) had several chances to score in the bottom of the third, but came up empty while leaving the bases full of Mountaineers. The squad had its best chance to get on the board when Courtney Zingle singled to deep right, but outfielder Jess Bergin was able to gun down Jenna Zimmermann, who led off the inning with a double, at home for the frame's second out by firing in a laser to Kat Smith.

By continuing to be disciplined at the plate and aggressive on the bases, UAlbany broke the game open with three more runs in the third. After Gina Mason and Kylie Apostolina were issued walks with one out, Mason stole third and Apostolina took second on the play to put two runners in scoring position for Smith. The all-conference catcher, who went 2-for-2 in the first game, came through again with a double to the gap in left center. Bergin singled in Stephanie Talerico, who came in as a pinch runner for Smith, on the next play to close out the scoring in the stanza.

After UAlbany added an insurance run in the fifth when Liz Noto hit into a fielder's choice, plating Smith, Beth Everist put Mount St. Mary's on the board by going yard in the top of the sixth. An RBI single by Mason in the bottom of the sixth to score Connors, who hit a leadoff triple, sealed the final outcome.

The Great Danes' McIntosh, the reigning America East Conference Pitcher of the Year, improved to 1-0 on the young season after striking out six batters and surrendering four hits and no runs in four innings of work. Allie Weiser, who was named the league's pitcher and rookie of the week earlier this season, relieved McIntosh for the final three innings. She fanned one hitter while surrendering two hits and one run which was earned. The Mountaineers' Sandowl dropped to 4-3 on the year in the losing effort. She struck out three batters in five innings, but issued seven walks and gave up eight runs which were all earned. Amanda Hanson held the Great Danes scoreless in the sixth.

In UAlbany's first game of the tournament after bad weather in the area cancelled the first two days of action, Cornell plated four runs in the bottom of the first by taking advantage of three Great Dane defensive miscues. Elise Menaker doubled in Devon March, who was hit by a pitch with one out, to put the Big Red on the board. Ashley Garvey singled on the next play, but an error in the outfield pushed Garvey and Menaker up to second and third base, respectively. Kristen Towne then reached on another error, which allowed Menaker and Garvey to score. The next batter grounded out to Walraven at short, but Towne scored an unearned run on a throwing error.

UAlbany got on the board in the top of the second. Kristine Bill reached on an error by pitcher Jenny Stoller with one down, and Apostolina earned a free pass to first. Smith followed with a single down the middle, but the center fielder threw the ball away which allowed Bill to score and Apostolina and Smith to take second and third with only one out. Stoller got out of the jam by forcing Bergin to line out into a double play.

Cornell (5-0), which won its fourth Ivy League title last season, extended its lead to five with two runs in the bottom of the second on a single by March, and added three more in the fourth. Garvey capped the scoring with a two-run homer to right center. Weiser relieved Marissa Powell in the circle and got the Great Danes out of the inning by striking out two batters and forcing another to fly out to left. The Great Danes loaded the bases in the top of the fifth with one out, but Katie Wambold was picked off at second and Kothe flied out to end the game due to the eight-run rule.

Cornell's Stoller, who earned her second career start and first of the season, surrendered only two hits and gave up one run in three innings of work to earn the win. She was relieved by Ali Tomlinson, who allowed two hits in as many frames. UAlbany's Powell dropped to 0-3 after giving up 10 hits, nine runs, including six earned, and striking out one in three innings. Weiser, who entered the game in the fourth with nobody out, did not give up any hits or runs and fanned two in her only inning of work.

UAlbany (2-4) will play a doubleheader at Longwood on Friday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m.
Paw Prints: UAlbany stole seven bases in the victory over Mount Saint Mary's, which were the most since the squad registered eight in a 7-5 nine-inning win over St. Peter's on March 8, 2002 ... The mark was also two shy of the Division I program record set against Notre Dame (Ohio) in a 5-0 victory on March 4, 2000 ... Jessica Bergin, Diana MacDowell and Andrianna Walraven led the team with two each.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information