Vince Gasparini
The University at Albany Great Danes Softball team traveled down to Madeira Beach, Florida to compete in the Spring Games this past weekend. The Danes came into the tournament with a record of 2-3 after competing in the Winthrop Eagle Invitational in February.
The Danes opened the series against Middle Tennessee State University in which they were able to power through to a victory by a score of 3-2. UAlbany got a hold of the lead in the bottom of the first inning off of a double by Katie Falotico, with the run being scored by Caitlyn Mitros. Behind some good pitching by Maranda Jimenez and some extra run insurance in the third inning from a two-run home run by Morgan Petty in the third inning, the Danes were able to pull together and secure the win.
Their second game on Friday saw them facing off against the Georgia Southern Eagles. In another low-scoring pitcher’s duel, UAlbany was able to fight their way to a win behind the pitching of Wendi Hammond. Hammond totaled 5 strikeouts and only allowed 1 run while pitching a complete game. While the Danes’ offense was dormant for the first 6 innings of the game, they came in clutch in the bottom of the seventh when Schuyler Ossman, with two outs and a full count, was able to rip a double and drive in two runs to bring the Danes to an exciting walk-off victory.
Saturday’s doubleheader saw the Great Danes split the games between a win and a loss. In game one, the offense was led by Morgan Petty and Alexis Phillips, the latter of whom tallied three RBI. Phillips, Katie Falotico, and Maranda Jimenez all drove in one run each. The win was earned by Briana Garrett, her first of the season. Albany was able to grab the win by a score of 6-4.
The Danes faced Long Island University in game two on Saturday. The game started scoreless for the first five innings before Albany was able to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning from a sac fly by Maddi Petrella, driving in Morgan Petty. However, the Sharks’ offense was able to explode in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs. Despite a home run off the bat of Wendi Hammond in the top of the seventh, the Danes fell to the Sharks by a score of 5-2.
The team closed off their series at the Spring Games with a game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles on Sunday. The Golden Eagles began the scoring in the bottom of the first, scoring one run. After several innings of no scoring by both teams, the Great Danes were able to tie the game in the fifth inning and then take a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth off of an RBI single by Maddi Petrella. Southern Miss was able to claim the lead again in the bottom of the sixth by scoring two runs. Despite being down for the second time in the game, Albany was able to come back once again, tying the game with an RBI single off the bat of Alexis Phillips, with Caitlyn Mitros crossing home plate. The game was sent to extra innings and the Golden Eagles were able to have the last laugh, scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth inning and winning the game by a score of 5-4.
UAlbany next plays on Friday, March 11 at the Towson Tournament, opening up the tourney against the Monmouth Hawks. The Great Danes will head into the weekend with a record of 5-5.