March 28, 2007
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist Softball team was solid in all aspects on Wednesday afternoon in a doubleheader sweep of Central Connecticut in the Red Foxes home opener. The Foxes won both games by a score of 6-0, with Pamela de la Llave (West Orange, N.J.) hitting a grand slam in game one and a solo shot in game two for Marist. Caitlin Carpentier (Andover, Mass.) and Megan Rigos (Pittsburgh, Pa.) combined for the shutout in game one, while Kristen Merlino (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) teamed with Rigos to shutout the Blue Devils in the second game.
Marist got all the scoring it would need in the second inning of game one, when it pushed across five of its six runs. Lindsey Kinel (East Hartford, Conn.) walk and an error that loaded the bases, de la Llave drove an offering from Central Connecticut's Samantha Keltos out to deep right center field for a 4-0 advantage. Senior captain Christine Jakobsen (Midland Park, N.J.) closed out the scoring in the frame when she went deep to center.
Marist would tack on another run in the sixth inning when Melissa Giordano (Stamford, Conn.) drove in Jakobsen with a two-out triple to right field.
Jakobsen and Giordano both went 2-4 in the game with an RBI; Jakobsen also scored two runs for the Foxes. De la Llave drove in four to go along with a run scored in the contest.
Marist also got strong pitching performances from Carpentier and Rigos in the contest. Carpentier started and went the first five innings, giving up five base hits and striking out five. Rigos came on for the final two frames and did not allow a base runner, while fanning five. Carpentier improved to 3-6 with the win.
Game two started as a pitching dual, with the Red Foxes breaking a scoreless tie with a run in the home half of the fourth inning. Marist got on the board when de la Llave connected on her second long ball of the day and of the season. She went 1-2 in the second game with an RBI and two runs scored.
Marist added another run in the fifth on Giordano's second long ball of the season. Giordano was a perfect 4-4 in the game, with a run scored and three driven in. She now leads the Foxes in batting average on the season with a .366 mark.
Marist broke the game open with four runs in the home sixth, keyed by two-run singled by Giordano. The sophomore infielder was one of three Red Foxes who had multiple hits in the game, with Jessica Green (Manassas, Va.) going 2-4 and Mary Beth Pomes (Milford, Pa.) going 2-3 with a run scored.
Merlino worked the first two innings for Marist, striking out one and allowing two hits and a walk. Rigos came on to go the next five and was dominant, allowing just one hit and a walk, while striking out three. She improved to 4-6 on the season with the victory.
At 7-17 overall on the season Marist will look to continue its momentum into Saturday when it takes on Manhattan in its first MAAC contest of the season. Game time in Riverdale on March 31 is scheduled for noon.
