May 18, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Photo Gallery

TUCSON, ARIZ. - In its first ever NCAA Tournament game the Marist softball team fell to second overall seed Arizona by a final score of 9-0 in six innings. Chrystine McHugh (Port Ewen, N.Y.) picked up Marist's first ever tournament hit in the fourth inning.

Arizona opened the scoring in the second inning on an RBI single by Laine Roth. The inning opened with Rigos hitting the first batter and then surrendering an infield single. After a running catch by Jessica Green (Manassas, Va.) in right, Roth found the hole in between shortstop and third base to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Arizona would plate its second run when Rigos threw a wild pitch that plated Chelsie Mesa. The Red Foxes would avoid further damage in the frame, as Rigos got leadoff hitter Caitlin Lowe to pop out and then got a break, as a bunt attempt by Autumn Champion hit her in fair territory for the final out.

Arizona would tack on a run in the bottom of the third on a pair of doubles. Callista Balko lead off the inning by hitting a ball up the right center field gap. Pinch runner Kelly Nelson would later score on the second double of the inning by Janae Leles, which gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.

Marist would get its only good scoring opportunity in the fourth inning, when it got a runner to third base with one out. McHugh led off the fourth with a double to left center field, and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Melissa Giordano (Stamford, Conn.). However, Arizona starter Alicia Hollowell (24-4) got the next two hitters to strike out to thwart the Marist threat.

Arizona would continue to pad its lead, as it took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning on a solo home run to left center field by Mesa. Arizona opened up a commanding 6-0 lead on a two run single by Kristie Fox in the bottom of the sixth. The game ended in the sixth when Balko hit a three run home run to left center to give Arizona the 9-0 victory.

Marist would manage just two base hits in the contest. Rigos would pitch the complete game and fall to 22-6 on the season. She struck out three in 5.1 innings of work.

Marist has an 0-1 record in the double elimination tournament and will look to stay alive tomorrow against Auburn. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hillenbrand Stadium.