WEST HARTFORD, CT ? For the second straight game, junior Amanda Sais came through with an extra-inning, walk-off hit as the University of Hartford softball team picked up a 2-1 victory over the University at Albany on Sunday at the UH Softball Field.
Hartford (17-15 overall, 6-8 America East) took two of three games from conference-leading Albany on the weekend. Sais, who drove in the winning run in Saturday's no-hit victory, also delivered the final blow on Sunday. After sophomore Amanda Dilworth reached base on a two-out walk and stole second to move into scoring position, Sais punched a base hit into right-center to bring her home.
Sophomore Brittney Stratton improved to 13-6 in the circle with the win. She gave up one run on six hits in a complete-game effort. She also struck out five while walking two. Marissa Powell took the loss for Albany (23-13 overall, 11-3 America East), surrendering two runs on four hits and striking out 11.
Hartford put a run on the board in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead. Sais smacked a one-out triple over the right fielder's head and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right by classmate Jackie Simonetty.
Hartford had a chance to add to its lead in the second inning but stranded runners on second and third. Albany took advantage and tied the game in the third after Andrianna Walraven walked to lead off the frame. She then stole second and later scored on a base hit to center by Meagan Butsch.
Albany squandered a chance to take the lead in the fifth. The Great Danes had a runner on third with one out, and a short fly ball to left field yielded a chance to tag up and score. Freshman Lauren Kamena's throw to the plate was over the catcher's head, but Albany's Amber Maisonet was forced wide on her slide and missed the plate. Stratton, who was backing up the play, caught the errant throw and applied the tag before Maisonet could reach for the plate.
The Great Danes got a runner into scoring position with one out in the seventh, but Stratton retired the side with a pair of infield pop-ups. Hartford also had a chance to win the game in the seventh after sophomore Rachel Clonick singled and stole second, but Powell got a strikeout to end the inning.
Hartford will next play a single game at Stony Brook University on Wednesday, April 23 at 3 p.m.
