May 4, 2005

Box Score

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - The Marist softball team (21-20, 7-5 MAAC) suffered a 7-0 defeat at the hands of visiting Iona (28-12, 13-1 MAAC) today at Gartland Field. Gaels pitcher Alison Higgs tossed a six-hit shutout and went three for four at the plate with a home run to help her team clinch the MAAC regular season title and the top seed for next weekend's MAAC Championships. The Red Foxes can clinch a berth in the four-team field with a doubleheader sweep at Manhattan on Saturday.

Higgs and Marist starter Megan Rigos (17-13, 2.48 ERA) had dueling shutouts through three innings until Iona 2B Liz Hammel led off the top of the fourth with her 11th home run of the year. The Gaels put the game away two innings later, scoring six times on three hits including a Higgs solo home run to lead off the inning and a two-run double off the bat of 3B Alexis Garbowski.

Marist managed just six singles off Higgs, who walked two and struck out seven. Rigos allowed five hits and three walks while striking out four in six innings. Freshman Kristen Merlino pitched the last frame, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out her last hitter.

The game was originally scheduled to be played as part of a doubleheader but inclement weather forced the postponement of the nightcap.

Junior 3B Chrystine McHugh singled in the fifth inning to become the fifth Red Fox in school history to collect 50 base hits in a season.

The key doubleheader at Gaelic Park between the Red Foxes and the Jaspers will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday.