Softball Splits Home Doubleheader with Holy Cross - Siena College Athletics (2024)

LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Softball returned home for midweek non-conference doubleheader action to the tune of sunny skies and mid-60's temperatures in Loudonville on Tuesday. The Saints (22-13) split a doubleheader to the tune of a 3-0 loss and an 8-5 against non-league foe Holy Cross (9-25) at Siena Softball Field, marking its first non-conference action in nearly three weeks.

Holy Cross 3, Siena 0

Facing off in Loudonville for the first time since 2019, the Crusaders took control of the first game off the bat via an RBI single in the top of the first and another in the top of the second. Siena managed just three baserunners over the first five innings, while a solo home run to left field extended the lead for the visitors in the third.

The Saints stranded two Holy Cross runners defensively in both the sixth and seventh innings, but left two on themselves in the final frame to complete their first time being shutout this season. The Crusaders held a 10-4 hits advantage, with sophom*ore Emma Petersen logging multiple hits for the Green and Gold. Freshman pitcher Hailey Francois (0-1) struck out four batters in a career-long five inning outing, while graduate student Nicole Patille tossed two scoreless innings of relief.

Siena 8, Holy Cross 5

Taking their home field for the first time in non-league play this season, the Saints rebounded in the nightcap with early offense, plating four runs in the second to pull ahead. Freshman Avamarie Perry scored a pair of runs on a 2 RBI double to left center, while junior Madi Silber came in to score off a sacrifice fly from freshman Carlie Venables, and Perry crossed home on an RBI ground out from junior McKenzie Swinson.

Holy Cross found the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third, but the home team responded with two more runs in the bottom of the innings thanks to RBI singles from junior Ashley Giampolo and Perry. The Crusaders continued to pick away at the lead with a pair of RBI singles to cut the deficit to three in the top of the fourth, but a fielding error to score fifth year Jocelyn Ulrich and an RBI double from Swinson pushed Siena's lead back out to five in the fifth. Holy Cross used the top of the seventh to play two more runs, but redshirt-sophom*ore Alissa Eimont's third save of the year shut the door with the bases loaded on the final out.

Both teams recorded nine hits, with Parry going for two hits and three RBI's, and Petersen and Ulrich also enjoying multi-knock outings. Junior Kaycie Kennedy struck out a pair in a three and two-thirds inning no-decision, while redshirt-senior Diana Parker (1-0) took home her first win of the year in three relief innings.

Siena will next head west for a three-game weekend series at MAAC rival Canisius on April 20 & 21.