UAlbany repeats in America East

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. » TheUAlbany Great Danes won the 2018 America East Championship against UMass Lowell. In doing so, the Great Danes have two two consecutive America East titles.

Junior pitcher Celeste Verdolivo led the UAlbany Great Danes to a 4-3 victory over UMass Lowell in the first game. Verdolivo struck out five UMass Lowell batters and threw 125 pitches. Verdolivo finished the 2018 season with a 16-2 record.

UMass Lowell scored one run in the second inning and two in the fourth, giving them a three-run advantage.

In the bottom of the fourth, Chelsea Henige doubled to center field and Courtney Courtade entered the game to pinch run. On a wild pitch, Courtade advanced home to score the first run of the game for the Great Danes. The River Hawks led 3-1 in the top of the fifth.

Kelly Spear hit a single to left field and Shaye Swiatek entered the game to pinch run in the bottom of the sixth. Chelsea Henige came in and hit a single downcenter field to advance Swiatek to third base. Sarah Petzold stepped up to bat and smashed a three-run homer over the fences of Bearcats Sports Complex to put her team in the lead by one run. Petzold has hit seven home runs so far this season. The Great Danes led 4-3 in the top of the seventh inning.

UMass Lowell was unable to score in the top of the seventh, ending the game 4-3 in a UAlbany victory.

Freshman pitcher Maranda Jimenez led the Great Danes to win the championship title. Jimenez struck out five batters and ended the 2018 season with a 10-4 record.

In the third inning, McKenzie Bump reached on an error by the short stop. Katie Falotico hit a sacrificial bunt, but reached on an error by the catcher, advancing Bump to third. Kelly Spear came up to bat and sacrifice flied out to right field, bringing Bump around to score and advancing Falotico to third base. Chelsea Henige then sacrifice flied out to center field as Falotico ran home to score the second run for the Great Danes.

UMass Lowell scored one run in the top of the fifth inning. Jimenez struck out the last UMass Lowell batter in the fifth inning with bases loaded.

The fifth inning began with McKenzie Bump’s walk, followed by a single to center field by Shaye Swiatek. Sarah Petzold knocked a two-run double off the center field fence to bring Bump and Swiatek around to score, giving the Great Danes a threerun advantage.

UMass Lowell put a runner on third base in the sixth inning, but Jimenez struck out the last batter, ending UMass Lowell’s turn at bat.

The Great Danes won the game 4-1.