UAlbany Takes Two in Opening Day of Coastal Carolina Invitational

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The University at Albany softball team kicked off their second tournament of the 2013 season with a sweep over Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina, 5-2 and 4-2, respectively. UAlbany (2-5) pitching combined for 15 strikeouts as both starters went for complete games. In five games at the FGCU invitational, the Great Danes recorded a total of 11 hits. Against the Catamounts and Chanticleers they strung together 14.

WESTERN CAROLINA: In game one, Junior and 2012 America East First-Team Pitcher, Brittany MacFawn (1-3), pitched her fourth complete game in as many starts. She scattered six hits, allowing just two earned runs and walking one. She struck out a season-high 11. Reigning America East Rookie of the Year Vicky McFarland slugged her first homer of the season, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.

The scoring opened up the third inning when UAlbany found their second lead of the early season off an unearned run. Western Carolina recorded two throwing errors which allowed the Great Danes to score without a hit.

In the fifth inning, UAlbany opened the game up when McFarland homered to left center. Later in the inning, sophomore Marlin Solano drove in freshman Annie Johnson with an RBI-single, putting the Great Danes ahead, 3-0. The run was again registered unearned as the Catamounts committed another error – they had four in the game.

Freshman Taylor Sigmon attempted to rally Western Carolina back into the game with a two-run shot in the top of the sixth. However, UAlbany responded, putting the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. McFarland recorded an RBI-single and was later driven in by Johnson who ripped a double to center field.

MacFawn recorded the win for the Great Danes. For the Catamounts freshman Mallory Broome (1-1) took the loss. She went 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out eight.

COASTAL CAROLINA: UAlbany bates continued to come alive in game two. They scored two in the first and never looked back. The middle of the Great Danes line-up combined for five hits – including two by junior Lauren Alcorn.

Junior Charlise Castro started the scoring with a two-out triple to drive in Johnson in the first inning. UAlbany added a second run off the bat of Alcorn who drove a single to right field to bring Castro home.

The game remained 2-0 until the third inning when the Chanticleers scored two off a single by redshirt senior Cacia Pierre. The Great Danes regained the lead, 3-2, off Solano’s second RBI of the day, a single to center field in the fifth inning, scoring freshman Kelly Costello.

The scoring would go quiet – as sophomore Emily Ostrom took over for UAlbany. In only her third career start, the righty dodged trouble. She allowed eight hits but kept Coastal Carolina off the board. In the sixth inning the Chanticleers left the game-tying run on third base. The Great Danes added an insurance run with another Solano RBI single.

Ostrom went the distance, fanning four and walking two. It her first career win. Ashley Bagwell was charged with the loss. She allowed three runs, two earned, striking out 10.

UAlbany has two more on tap tomorrow as they continue the invitational. They play Drexel at noon followed by a second match-up against Coastal Carolina at 4:30 p.m.