NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team kicked off its four-game weekend series against Anna Maria College with a doubleheader sweep on Friday afternoon at the Shea Softball Complex. The Falcons came out on top in the opener, 5-4, before battling back in the bottom of sixth to claim the nightcap, 2-1. 

THE BASICS - G1
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 5 | Anna Maria 4 - 9 innings
MEETING: This is the 14th and 15th meeting between the Falcons and AMCATS.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Heading into today's doubleheader, Albertus led the all-time series against Anna Maria, 13-0.
LOCATION: Shea Softball Field
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

Anna Maria opened the scoring in the top of the second as the AMCATS scored two runs on four hits to take the early lead over the Falcons. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single from Saylor Costa and a sacrifice fly to center field from Kendall McNamee.

The Falcons countered in the bottom half of the third scoring one run behind a one-out triple from Ivy Geloso (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and an error by Anna Maria's center fielder that would have ended the inning. Despite the dropped fly ball, Albertus was unable to drive in Jess Stettinger (East Haven, Conn.) from third to tie the game at two heading into the top of the fourth. 

After a scoreless fourth, Anna Maria struck again in the fifth, this time on a two-out RBI single to center field from Kiara Edmonds to put the visitors up 3-1. 

However, the AMCATS lead didn't last long, as the Falcons recorded a two-run rally in the bottom of the fifth to even the game at 3-all. With no outs, Albertus managed to load the bases for Stettinger, who was forced out on the bags for the first out. However, Geloso was able to score from third following a throwing error by the AMCATS catcher. With two outs, Laura Anderson (East Haven, Conn.) kept things going with an RBI single to left field, driving in Janelle Franklin (Middletown, Conn.) for the third run.  

Albertus continued to swing the bat in the bottom of the sixth as the Falcons took their first lead of the game, 4-3, behind a two-out RBI single from Geloso.  

A half-inning later, Anna Maria tied the game at 4-4 following a one-run, one-hit inning. The Falcons were unable to capitalize at the plate, despite putting a runner on third via an error, a stolen base, and a sac bunt, and game one was sent into extra innings. 

Neither team was able to win it in the eighth, and the teams transitioned to the ninth inning, with the score still deadlocked at 4-all. 

In the top of the ninth, Anderson slammed the door on the AMCATS, throwing a three-up, three-down inning and sending the teams to the last of the ninth. With international tie-breaker rules in effect for extra innings, Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.) was placed on second to start the inning. Madison LaBossiere (Griswold, Conn.) pinch ran for Ramada and moved over to third following a groundout from Franklin With a runner on third base and two outs in the last of the ninth, with the game tied at 4-all, Stettinger stalked to the plate and promptly lined a laser beam base hit into center field to drive in LaBossiere for the game-winning run.   

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Laura Anderson (W, 6-2) | LP: Kaitlyn Snyder (L, 0-8)
• Geloso finished game one with a team-leading three hits, while Megan Anderson (Levittown, N.Y.) added two hits of her own. 
• Stettinger, L. Anderson and Geloso each recorded an RBI in the win.
• Edmonds led the AMCATS with three hits to go along with an RBI and two runs scored.
• L. Anderson threw her 44th career-complete game as a Falcon as well as recorded five strikeouts and allowed no walks.

SENIOR DAY
Prior to the start of game two, the Albertus Magnus softball team honored its two-member senior class - Laura Anderson and Megan Anderson - for their hard work and dedication to the program over their tenure with the squad. These two student-athletes were key contributors to the Falcons' success, posting an overall record of 85-58 and helped lead the team to four GNAC Tournament appearances.

Megan Anderson (pictured above)        Laura Anderson (pictured above)

THE BASICS - G2
FINAL: Albertus: 2 | Anna Maria 1 
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (9-5,9-3 GNAC) | Anna Maria (4-18, 1-13 GNAC)
LOCATION: Shea Softball Field 
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game two started with the pitchers on their game, as both offenses were kept in check early. Both teams managed a pair of hits in the first but were both kept off the board to send the teams into the second inning, with neither team having the advantage. 

Bernadette Kingsbury (Trumbull, Conn.) started in the circle for the Falcons and recorded a three-up, three-down second inning. The Falcons followed suit shortly after, going down in order to send the teams to the third inning. 

Anna Maria scored the game's first run in the top of the third, on a single and a couple of stolen bases to take the early 1-0 lead.        

From then on, both pitchers settled in, as neither Kingsbury and Sabrina Liston allowed a hit until the bottom of the sixth. With that one-run deficit from the AMCATS looming large, the Falcon offense came alive as Franklin led off the inning with a long triple to center field to put a runner in scoring position early for the Falcons. L. Anderson followed two batters later with her own triple, this one a blast into the right-center field gap to drive in Franklin from third and tie the game at 1-all. A Kayla Resto (Shelton, Conn.) groundout scored L. Anderson from third to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh. 

Those runs would prove to be the deciders, as Kingsbury recorded a perfect three-up, three-down frame with one strikeout to seal the conference victory for the Falcons.

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Bernadette Kingsbury (W, 2-1) | LP: Sabrina Liston (L, 2-7)
• The Falcons had four different players register a hit in the nightcap.
• L. Anderson and Resto each posted an RBI each.
• Kingsbury tied her season-high in strikeouts with eight. 
• Albertus posted only one strikeout, compared to Anna Maria who had eight.