May 4, 2006

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist Softball team split a MAAC twinbill with Niagara on Thursday afternoon. The Foxes won game one 8-0 and then dropped game two by a 5-4 score. Marist picked up six extra base hits in the win, including home runs from Chrystine McHugh (Port Ewen, N.Y.) and Jasmery Polanco (Bay Shore, N.Y.).

Sophomore left hander Megan Rigos (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked up her seventh shutout in pitching her 21st complete game of the season. With the victory, she moves to 19-4 on the season and is posting an earned run average of 0.99. She gave up just two base hits in game one and struck out seven Purple Eagles, opposed to just three walks.

The Red Foxes pounded out 12 hits in the win, half of which went for extra bases. McHugh led the charge by going 2-2 with her 15th home run of the season and a double. She scored three times and drove in one. Melissa Giordano (Stamford, Conn.) was 2-3 in the opening game with two runs scored and an RBI.

Polanco got things started for Marist, though, as her three-run home run in the bottom of the first was the key hit in a four run frame for Marist. For the game she was 3-4 with a run scored and three knocked in.

In game two, Niagara appeared to have control of the contest until the sixth inning. Leading 5-0 the Red Foxes scored four runs with two outs to cut the deficit to one run heading into the final stanza. Jessica Green (Manassas, Va.) hit the first round tripper off of Niagara starter Tiffany McCrory, before an infield single and another two-run shot by Annie Castellano (Happauge, N.Y.) made the game 5-4.

The Foxes would get the tying run on base in the seventh, but would not be able to get it past first. Freshman Caitlin Carpentier (Andove, Mass) took the loss and fell to 7-3 on the season.

At 29-10 and 11-3 in the MAAC, Marist will close out the regular season on Sunday when it travels to New Rochelle to play a set with Iona. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m.