McFarland Slugs Two Homers as UAlbany Sweeps Monday Doubleheader

Kissimmee, FLA – The University at Albany women’s softball team slugged five homers in a doubleheader sweep over Manhattan College on Monday, March 18. Reigning America East Rookie of the Year, Vicky McFarland, had two of those dingers and five hits in total. The Great Danes strung together a season-high 17 hits and 14 runs in the second game, winning 14-6. UAlbany is now 10-7 on the season.

Manhattan Game 1: A three-run fourth inning highlighted the Great Danes 5-1 win over the Jaspers in the early game. Brittany MacFawn improved to 5-5 on the season, pitching her 10^th complete game.

Both teams exchanged a run before UAlbany opened up the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. The first run of the inning was off the bat of freshman Kelly Costello who singled in junior Lauren Alcorn. From there, McFarland hit a two-run homer to center field, putting the score at 4-1.

MacFawn took over from there, not allowing a run after the first inning. She went seven innings, allowing four hits and striking out nine. She has 23 strikeouts in her last two outings.

McFarland was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Costello lead the team with three runs scored, she added two hits along with Alcorn. For Manhattan, junior Kate Bowen pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs.

Manhattan Game 2: UAlbany bats continued to come alive in game two. The Great Danes had double-digit scoring in four of six innings, including seven runs in the last two. McFarland belted her second homer of the day as give players had two hits or more.

The Jaspers opened up the game with three runs in the top of the first. Freshman Andi Stallard hit a two-run RBI double to put the score at 3-0.

This would be the only lead Manhattan would see as the Great Danes scored seven runs in the first three innings. The scoring was highlighted by two home runs. First, sophomore Alexa Toole hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the second. Then, one inning later, Alcorn homered to left field, driving in three and putting the score at 7-4.

Junior Charlise Castro slugged her third homer of the season, good for three more runs. This put the score at 11-4 in the fifth inning. McFarland put icing on the cake with the team's fourth homer of the game. Her two-run shot ended the game at 14-6 after six innings of play.

Junior Emily Ostrom (5-2) recorded the win. She went six innings, allowing six earned runs and striking out four. Senior Kelsi Redding recorded the loss for Manhattan.

UAlbany concludes the Rebel Games tomorrow with two games. First, they host Rider at 9:00 a.m. followed by UW-Green Bay at 11:00 a.m. The Great Danes will head to Boston University this weekend to begin a three-game series that opens up conference play.