Loudonville, N.Y. - Freshman Kylie Apostolina blasted her first career homer and drove in three runs in the opener and senior Leah McIntosh took a perfect game into the seventh inning before finishing with a one-hit shutout in the nightcap as UAlbany swept Siena in a non-conference softball doubleheader on Thursday, April 29 at Siena Field. The Great Danes won the first game, 8-1, before taking the second by a 5-0 decision to extend their winning streak to 15 games against their crosstown rival.
In game one, UAlbany pushed across four runs in the top of the third inning by taking advantage of consecutive Siena errors in the infield. The first two runs scored with two outs when Kristine Bill reached on an error by the second baseman. The Great Danes quickly doubled their lead when Kayla Cilley's grounder to the left side was misplayed by the shortstop.
After Siena (9-34) got one run back in the bottom of the same frame, the visitors scored two more times in the top of the fourth. Kylie Apostolina hit an RBI double to left center with two outs, and Bill followed with an RBI single to center one play later. In the top of the sixth, Apostolina crushed her first career home run after Lindsey Stout was issued a walk to produce the final 8-1 outcome.
UAlbany's Powell, who pitched the first four innings, picked up the victory and improved to 7-10 overall. She allowed just two hits and one run while striking out three. Weiser hurled three scoreless innings of relief. The freshman surrendered one hit and fanned three batters. The Great Dane pitching staff did not issue a walk in the game.
Siena's Amanda Fillipazzo was tagged with the loss after surrendering seven hits and six runs, including only two that were earned, in five innings. She registered two strikeouts and issued four walks. Courtney Brinkman relieved the sophomore for the last two innings. She gave up two hits and two runs while issuing two walks and striking out three Great Dane hitters.
UAlbany quickly seized control in the nightcap by plating two runs in the top of the first when Michelle Connors went yard for the 22nd time of her career. Andrianna Walraven, who singled down the line in right to start the inning, also scored on the play.
While McIntosh was flirting with a perfect game, the Great Danes added two more runs in the third and another in the sixth. Gina Mason belted a two-run double to center field in the third inning to give her team a 4-0 advantage before Apostolina capped the scoring by hitting a solo shot over the fence in dead center for her second home run of the afternoon.
Siena made an attempt to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mandy Ferro blooped a single down the right field line to start the frame and break up McIntosh's perfect game. Three batters later, Mahan kept the Saints alive by drawing a two-out walk. However, McIntosh regained control and fanned Lindsey McCeever for the game's final out.
UAlbany's McIntosh, who tossed her third complete-game shutout of the spring, improved her overall ledger to 7-5 this season. She allowed one hit and issued one walk while matching a season high with 12 strikeouts. Siena's Ferro, who pitched the first three innings, took the loss and fell to 0-6 this year. She allowed seven hits and four runs. She was relieved by Brinkman, who yielded one run and three hits in three innings of work.
UAlbany (18-20), which stands in fourth place in the America East Conference standings, will have the weekend off and wrap up the regular season with a three-game set at UMBC on May 8-9. With potential postseason implications on the line, the teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, May 8, beginning at 1 p.m., and a single game on Sunday, May 9 at 12 p.m.
Paw Prints: Leah McIntosh came three outs shy of throwing her fifth career perfect game and seventh no-hitter in the nightcap ... The senior allowed a leadoff single that barely stayed fair down the line in right to start the seventh and final frame ... McIntosh hurled a national-best four perfect games last season, earning America East Conference Pitcher of the Year honors for her efforts ... The senior has pitched 14 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to score ... UAlbany has not lost to Siena since dropping a 5-3 decision to its crosstown rival on March 28, 2007.
UAlbany 004 202 0 8 9 0
Siena 001 000 0 1 3 3
UAlbany: Marissa Powell, Allie Weiser (5) and Kat Smith, Lindsey Stout (4).
Siena: Amanda Fillipazzo, Courtney Brinkman (6) and Nastasha Powlowsky.
UAlbany 202 001 0 5 10 0
Siena 000 000 0 0 1 1
UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.
Siena: Mandy Ferro, Courtney Brinkman (4) and Jen Duell.
Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information
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