University of Albany Softball Takes A-East Doubleheader at Hartford; Marissa Powell Picks Up Win and Save - UAlbany Sports 2010

West Hartford, Conn. - Senior pitcher Marissa Powell earned a key save in the opener and picked up her third straight victory in the nightcap in leading UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Hartford in America East Conference softball action on Saturday, April 3 at the UH Softball Field. The Great Danes edged the Hawks in game one, 3-2, before taking the nightcap by a 5-2 score.

In game two, Hartford (10-8, AE 1-4) jumped out to a quick lead by tallying one run in the bottom of the second. Jordan Haines drew a leadoff walk before Rachel Clonick and Kate Wacyk hit singles to load the bases with nobody out. An Ann Kyzer single to the shortstop, the Hawks' third hit in a row, plated Haines.

After a tough start, Powell was able to get out of the major jam by keeping the ball in the infield and getting some help from her defense. The senior fanned Erica Phelps, and Michelle Connors successfully gunned down Clonick for the force out at home on a fielder's choice play. With the bases still loaded, Amanda Dilworth grounded out to Powell to end the inning.

UAlbany (12-9, AE 4-1) rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning and added two more runs in the fifth to go ahead by three. Katie Wambold hit a leadoff single and came home two plays later on a single to left field by Andrianna Walraven. The junior shortstop stole second and scored the go-ahead thanks to a single to center by Connors. A two-run homer by Kristine Bill made it a 4-1 game through four-and-a-half innings.

Hartford attempted to rally when Clonick homered to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but the visitors answered with another run to start the seventh and final frame. Jessica Bergin belted a leadoff single to center and stole second to move into scoring position. Kristine Bill then doubled to the same spot two plays later to plate the junior. Powell and the Great Dane defense then used a double play to keep the Hawks off the scoreboard in the bottom half of the seventh inning to earn their 10th victory in the last 11 games.

UAlbany's Powell went the distance and improved her record to 3-5 this season after striking out six and allowing two runs and seven hits. Hartford's Siera Sheehan also hurled a complete game and dropped to 3-5 after yielding seven hits and five runs. She struck out seven and issued two walks.

After three scoreless innings, UAlbany got on the board first in game one by pushing across two runs in the top of the fourth. Kat Smith hit a solo home run to left field with one out to start the scoring. Hartford ace Brittney Stratton forced the next batter to foul out to the first baseman, but Bergin and Bailey Van Deest hit consecutive doubles to add to the lead for the visitors before the final out of the frame could be recorded.

Leah McIntosh struck out the side in the bottom of the fourth and got some more run support in the top half of the fifth. Connors hit a two-out triple to the gap in right center and came home on a wild pitch by Stratton.

Hartford, which recently swept a doubleheader against Holy Cross earlier in the week, battled back by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Hitting with two outs and runners on first and second, Nicole Springer blasted a two-run double to left center to cut the Great Dane lead to a run.

After UAlbany left the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, the hosts made a major threat to at least tie the game and force extra innings in the bottom half of the inning. Dilworth led off with a double to left field to put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run at the plate. However, Powell relieved McIntosh and retired the next three batters to earn her first career save.

UAlbany's McIntosh improved to 5-2 this season by striking out a season-high 12 batters in six innings of work. She issued three walks and gave up six hits and two runs. Powell did not allow a hit in an inning of relief and picked up the first save by a Great Dane pitcher this season. Hartford's Stratton suffered the loss and fell to 6-3 on the year. She yielded eight hits and three runs in five innings of work while fanning two. Springer pitched two scoreless innings of relief, surrendering a hit and three walks.

UAlbany and Hartford will wrap up the three-game weekend series tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m.

UAlbany 000 210 0 3 9 2
Hartford 000 020 0 2 6 1
UAlbany: Leah McIntosh, Marissa Powell (7) and Kat Smith.
Hartford: Brittney Stratton, Nicole Springer (6) and Sara Messinger.

UAlbany 002 020 1 5 7 0
Hartford 010 001 0 2 7 0
UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.
Hartford: Siera Sheehan and Jordan Haines.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information