Softball Advances to Winner’s Bracket Championship

LOCATION: UMaine Softball Complex – Orono, Maine
 
SHORT STORY: The Great Danes started hot with two home runs in the first inning on their way to a five-inning win against fifth-seed UMass Lowell, Thursday.
 
RECORDS: UAlbany 31-12, 14-6 America East | UMass Lowell 15-28, 8-11 America East
 
SCORE: #1 UAlbany 10, #5 UMass Lowell 1 (5 innings)
 
KEY STATS

• Graduate student Maddi Petrella led with three hits, in three at bats, two home runs, four RBI, and three runs.
• Redshirt-junior Victoria Vilarchao also hit a home run.
• Freshman Mary Kate Murray followed Petrella with two RBI while graduate students Caitlyn Mitros and Morgan Petty followed with two runs each.
• Nearly all batters (eight) in the Great Danes’ lineup earned a hit against the River Hawks.
• Graduate student Wendi Hammond and redshirt-junior Kate Powers shared time in the circle. Pitching four strikeouts, Hammond earned the win and allowed no runs in three innings. Powers followed with three strikeouts in two innings.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UAlbany started the game strong with four runs in the first.
• After Caitlyn Mitros and Morgan Petty earned a base on balls, Maddi Petrella slammed the ball over the left-field fence on her first pitch.
• Victoria Vilarchao followed in Petrella’s steps with a second consecutive home run, this one to center field.
• Leaving one runner on base, the Great Danes held a 4-0 advantage after one.
• Knocking down three outs in three batters, UAlbany extended its lead to eight in the second.
• With one out on the board, the Great Danes tallied three straight hits, including a triple from Mitros, an RBI single from Petty, and a single to right field from Petrella.
• Loading the bases with a walk for Vilarchao, Mary Kate Murray sent the ball shallow into right field for two RBI.
• Before ending the inning, junior Christie Collins scored from third on a sac fly from senior Jordan Nastos.
• After a scoreless third inning, the top of the fourth was all pitcher Kate Powers. With the bases loaded, she threw a final strike for her third strikeout of the inning.
• The first pitch of the bottom of the fourth turned into a second home run for Petrella.
• Pinch-running for Vilarchao, junior Caitlyn Frederick made her way home, from second, during a groundout to first base…