April 20, 2005

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Marist softball team went over the .500 mark for the season with a doubleheader sweep of host Stony Brook today. The Red Foxes (18-16) won the opener 3-1 in 10 innings and took the nightcap 1-0. Freshman Megan Rigos tossed 10 and a third innings on the day with 13 strikeouts, including a career-high 12 in the first game. Sophomore LF Christine Jakobsen came up with a two-out two-run single in the top of the 10th to give Marist the win in that contest.

The opener was a pitchers' duel throughout, as Rigos and Seawolves pitcher Sarah Hoffman threw twin shutouts for nine innings. Hoffman no-hit the Red Foxes until sophomore RF Lyndsay Ward reached on an infield single to lead off the top of the sixth. Marist had runners on first and second with nobody out after junior 2B Laurissa Riley reached on an error, but Hoffman got the next three hitters out to end the threat.

In the top of the ninth, Marist would leave the go-ahead run stranded on third base as pinch runner Pamela de la Llave, who came in after junior Bridget Hurlman's single, stole second and advanced on a groundout by junior catcher Jasmery Polanco. Hoffman would induce freshman 1B Annie Castellano to pop up, ending the inning.

With the score still 0-0 and two out in the top of the 10th, Riley drew a key walk to start the winning rally. Junior third baseman Chrystine McHugh followed with a single down the left field line, extending her hit streak to 26 games, as Riley was safe at third and McHugh advanced to second on the throw. Jakobsen then stepped to the plate and singled into left field, scoring both Riley and McHugh. Marist would then add an insurance run as Jakobsen scored on an error by SS Laura Bradford.

The Seawolves attempted a last-ditch rally in the bottom of the inning as DP Colleen McCarthy led off with a double and later scored on Bradford's RBI groundout, but CF Jane Stein would ground out to junior shortstop Katie Eskin to give the Red Foxes the win.

Rigos (14-10, 2.66 ERA) enjoyed the strongest outing of her young career, striking out a career-high 12 in her 18th complete game. She allowed one run on six hits and walked nobody. Hoffman (8-9) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out one.

Game 2 starters Kristen Merlino and Angela Andrews (5-16) also tossed matching shutouts at each other for most of the game. Through four scoreless innings, Merlino had allowed four hits and Andrews just three. In the top of the fifth, Riley laced a one-out double to right center and immediately scored on McHugh's single to center field that was misplayed by Stein for an error. McHugh had singled back in the third inning as her consecutive-game hitting streak has now reached 27 games.

Merlino (4-5, 3.47 ERA) would make that lone run stand up with one of her best efforts to date, blanking the Seawolves (14-26) for six and two-thirds on seven hits and a walk. With two out in the bottom of the seventh and runners on first and second, Marist head coach Melissa Tucci called on Rigos to nail down the win. The rookie from Pittsburgh, Pa. proceeded to strike out catcher Margaret Blair to earn her fourth save in as many chances.

Hurlman had two hits in the nightcap for the Red and White, who have won six straight for the first time since 2001, also the last time Marist has had a winning record this late in the season.

The Red Foxes are back in action Sunday, April 24 when they host MAAC rival Siena in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.