April 1, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y.- The Marist softball team split a doubleheader at Albany on Tuesday afternoon. In game one, Pamela de la Llave (West Orange, N.J.) hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh to give Marist a 6-4 lead, as the Red Foxes (11-17) held on for a 6-5 win. They dropped game two, 4-3, in eight innings.
Marist freshman Kate Malloy (Fair Haven, N.J.) got the scoring started in the opener with her first career home run in the top of the second after the first five Red Fox batters struck out.
Marist starter Megan Rigos (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was able to put Albany down in order in the bottom half, but the Great Danes pulled ahead with two runs on two hits and two Marist throwing errors in the bottom of the third.
The Red Foxes were retired in order in the top of the fourth, and Albany added to their lead with a two-run homer off the bat of Gina Mason in the bottom half.
Marist pushed across one run in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-2. Malloy doubled to lead off and was sacrificed to second by McCallion Campbell (Port Jervis, N.Y.). Alanna Woody (Clinton Corners, N.Y.) then brought home Malloy with a ground out to second.
Marist loaded the bases in the top of the sixth but could not come through with the big hit, and the score remained 4-2 going into the top of the seventh.
Campbell led off with a walk in the top of the seventh. After a fielder's choice, Mary Beth Pomes (Milford, Pa.) ripped a hard grounder up the middle that Albany pitcher Brittany Rose could not handle. Melissa Giordano (Stamford, Conn.) then roped a single to right to load the bases for de la Llave's game-winning grand slam, which was a no-doubter to right center.
Rigos allowed a lead-off home run to Jessica Bergin, but was able to retire the side in the seventh for the win. It was her eleventh complete game of the year. She struck out six, walked none, and gave up five runs (three earned).
Leah McIntosh started game one for Albany (11-10). She went the first 6.1 innings. McIntosh was relieved by Rose who took the loss.
Marist had six hits in the opener. Giordano led the way, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Malloy went 2-for-3. De la Llave (homer) and Pomes had the other Marist hits.
Game two was another thriller. Caitlin Carpentier (Andover, Mass.) started and turned in a great performance. The junior went the first 7.1 innings and was charged with three runs (two earned).
It was a scoreless contest throughout until Jessica Green (Manassas, Va.) hit a massive home run over the score board in left center to put Marist up 2-0 in the top of the seventh. It was her third home run of the season. Green drove in de la Llave who led off the inning with a single to right.
After an error to start the bottom of the seventh, Meagan Butsch tripled to right center to cut the Marist lead to one. Carpentier retired the next two batters before giving up a two out single to pinch hitter Leann Tillman.
In the top of the eighth (international tie-break rules) the Red Foxes took a 3-2 lead when Campbell, who started the inning on second, scored on a wild pitch.
The first Albany batter of the eighth sacrificed to put a runner on third with one out. At that point, Carpentier was relieved by Rigos who hit the first batter she faced. Albany tied the score 3-3 on a passed ball, and then went on to plate the winning run after a Marist throwing error.
"That second game was a tough one," Marist head coach Erin Layton said. "We played a solid Albany team and, overall, we were solid throughout. It was a good performance and an excellent tune-up for conference play."
In the second game, de la Llave, Green, and Woody had the Marist hits.
Marissa Powell got the win on the mound for the Danes. She went all eight and struck out four.
Rigos (8-8) took the game two loss.
Marist will return to the diamond Sunday when they visit Fairfield in their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of the season.
