April 17, 2005

Box Score

Niagara University, N.Y. - The Marist softball team improved to 14-16 overall and 4-2 in the MAAC with a doubleheader sweep of host Niagara today. Game scores were 10-1 and 14-5. Junior shortstop Katie Eskin had four RBI to lead the Red Foxes in the opener while catcher and co-captain Jasmery Polanco went four for five with five RBI and a home run in the nightcap. Freshman Megan Rigos earned both wins.

Marist broke a 1-1 tie in the opener as junior 2B Laurissa Riley walked and came around to score on an error in the fifth inning. The Red and White slammed its way to eight insurance runs in the top of the sixth with the big blow coming on a three-run double by Eskin. Rigos struck out four in a six-inning complete game (the eight-run rule was invoked), allowing three hits and walking two.

The Red Foxes won the nightcap 14-5 behind Polanco's offensive fireworks, including a two-run home run in the first inning, her second of the year, and a two-run double in the sixth. Sophomore RF Lyndsay Ward smacked her third homer of the year, a solo shot, in the second inning.

The Purple Eagles (9-17, 1-3 MAAC) rallied for five runs in the third inning off starter Kristen Merlino to come within 6-5, but Rigos would come up with four one-hit shutout innings to earn her second win of the day and 11th of the season. She is the 11th pitcher in program history to win that many games in a season and the first since 2001.

Junior DP Bridget Hurlman was three for five with two runs and two RBI in Game 2. Eskin drove in two runs for six RBI on the day. Junior 3B Chrystine McHugh had two hits in each game to extend her hitting streak to 23 games.

Marist hosts non-conference foe La Salle in a doubleheader Tuesday at Gartland Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.