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ALBANY – Junior Tina Karaqi's two-run homer and a RBI from senior Kari Bird in the ninth allowed The College of Saint Rose softball team to nab a come-from-behind 6-5 (nine innings) win over American International after falling to the Yellow Jackets 9-4 earlier in the day in Northeast-10 Conference action from Cathy Haker Field.
 
Trailing 5-1 entering the fifth, junior Rachel Waseleski led off the inning for Saint Rose (13-16 overall, 6-7 NE-10), reaching on an error from AIC's (5-16, 3-7) junior Jorrdin Miller at third, and advanced to second while the ball was being retrieved. Waseleski moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from senior Marisa Bird, and was sent home when junior Danielle Brusca cranked out a RBI single to left.
 
Brusca was thrown out on the next play, but Saint Rose managed to keep momentum going with two outs and a runner on first. Freshman Taylor Solomon stepped to the plate next, and dished out a RBI double to left center, allowing the runner to score. Karaqi was drawn next in the lineup, and sent a rocket far beyond the left field fence to tie the game at five-all.
 
Both teams had a number of opportunities to score throughout the remainder of the game as the Yellow Jackets left six runners on, and Saint Rose registered five stranded. Bird (Marisa) was placed on second to kick off the bottom of the ninth, and moved to third on a groundout from Brusca. Bird (Kari) stepped to the plate next and sent a slow roller to third, giving Bird (Marisa) enough time to scoot home.
 
AIC used momentum from the win in game one to get ahead earlier in the contest. The Yellow Jackets picked up three runs in the first off a three-run homer from freshman Alexa DiLeo, and tacked on two more in the fifth off another home run, this one from junior Lyndsey Letourneau to left center.
 
Each squad saw three different pitchers, with the win going to senior Ashlee Frazier (3-2). Frazier entered in the sixth, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters. Junior Nicole Wickham got the starting nod, throwing five complete innings and giving up all five runs, all of them earned, and also fanning three.
 
Tied at 4-4 heading in the seventh inning of game one, AIC capitalized on four hits and an error to claim its fifth victory of the season. Wickham entered in the top of the inning and ultimately suffered the loss, while sophomore Renee Vaiano and Frazier split the innings prior to that.
 
Junior Jenna Costa sparked a five-run spurt as she led off with a single up the middle. The Yellow Jackets loaded up the bases to follow, capturing the first run off a RBI single to left from Miller, and sending Costa home. Letourneau and freshman Jamie Mainez registered two RBI each in their next at-bats to give AIC the large lead.
 
The Golden Knights got on the board early in the first as Karaqi double to left center with two runners on. AIC evened the score in the second with a RBI single from Mainez.  
 
Saint Rose put up another tally in the fifth when junior Taylor Snyder double to left center with Brusca on first, followed by the Yellow Jackets taking a two-run lead in their next at-bat. Senior Anna Carey evened the score in the bottom of the inning off a huge two RBI single down the right field line.
 
Solomon led from the plate on the day with a 4-for-7 performance and two RBI, followed by Brusca at 4-for-9 and Karaqi with a 3-for-8 outing and a team-high three RBI.
 
The Golden Knights return to the diamond on Friday as Southern Connecticut State ventures to the Capital District for a three game series beginning on Friday at 6:00 pm. Friday's contest serves as a breast cancer awareness night for the Golden Knights, while Saturday's double header features a senior day celebration honoring the senior members of the team for their hard work and dedication to the program.

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