March 30, 2005
Box Score
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - The Marist softball team (5-11) suffered a sweep at the hands of visiting Fordham today in the home opener at Gartland Field. Junior Bridget Hurlman hit home runs in both games of the doubleheader.
The Red Foxes found themselves down 5-0 after an inning and a half with all the runs coming on a pair of home runs by Fordham RF Katie Davis. Marist got a run back in the bottom of the second as Hurlman turned on a Sara Kinney pitch and drove it over the left-center field wall for her third home run this season to bring the home team within four.
That would be as close as the Red Foxes would get the rest of the way, however, as the Rams added five more runs and went on to win 10-4, keyed by CF Krystle Henry's two-run homer in the fourth. Junior 3B Chrystine McHugh gave the home fans something to cheer about in the bottom of the seventh with her first home run of the season, extending her consecutive-game hit streak to eight.
Freshman Megan Rigos pitched her ninth complete game, striking out three. Kinney scattered two hits, including Hurlman's home run, and struck out three to earn the win.
Marist hung in with the Rams in the nightcap, rallying to tie the game twice before falling 6-3.
Down 2-0 as they came to bat for the first time, the Red Foxes brought home a pair as C Jasmery Polanco singled home 2B Laurissa Riley and starting pitcher Kristen Merlino helped her own cause with an RBI single of her own that plated SS Katie Eskin.
After Fordham went ahead again 3-2 in the top of the fourth, Hurlman tied it up in the bottom of the fourth with another blast to left-center, this one off Carol Fischer.
The Rams were not to be denied in the later innings as Davis, 3B Allison Twarowski and RF Lauren Perillo all hit solo home runs. Fischer earned the win and Kinney returned to pitch the last three innings to get the save. Merlino went the distance for the third time this year, scattering seven hits and fanning one.
Marist is back in action tomorrow, traveling to local non-conference rival Army for a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
