April 6, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
FAIRFIELD, Conn.- The Marist softball team dropped their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener 2-1 to Fairfield, and the second game between the two teams was suspended due to darkness with the score tied 5-5 in the 12th inning. The Red Foxes (11-18-1, 0-1-1 MAAC) held a 5-0 lead in the second game but were not able to hold on as Fairfield (11-16-2, 3-0-1 MAAC) tied the score in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Game one was a pitchers dual as the two teams combined for just eight hits. Marist starter Megan Rigos (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Fairfield starter Sarah Minice each pitched a complete game.
Rigos went six innings and gave up five hits. She struck out five and walked none. The loss drops her record to 8-9.
The Stags scored their runs in the third inning. Rigos retired the first two batters, but Julia Jacoby reached on a bunt single, and Riannon Thomas followed with a two-run homer to put Fairfield up 2-0.
Marist could not get much going until the seventh. Freshman Kate Malloy (Fair Haven, N.J.) started the rally with a one out triple. Lindsey Kinel (East Hartford, Conn.) followed with a walk to put runners on first and third with one out. Kinel was cut down attempting to steal second, but the out allowed Malloy to score. McCallion Campbell (Port Jervis, N.Y.) walked with two outs, but the Marist rally ended with a strikeout.
Malloy went 2-for-3 in game one. Melissa Giordano (Stamford, Conn.) had the other Red Fox hit. Marist left five runners on base in game one.
The Red Foxes jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second game with two runs in the first and three more in the second.
Giordano led off the game with a double, and Malloy followed with a single. Pamela de la Llave (West Orange, N.J.) singled to bring in Giordano, but Malloy was thrown out at the plate on the play. Jessica Green (Manassas, Va.) then drove in de la Llave who advanced to second on the previous play at the plate.
Marist starter Caitlin Carpentier (Andover, Mass.) worked out of a jam in the Fairfield first, and the Marist bats went back to work in the top of the second.
Campbell led the inning off with a walk. After a fly out, Mary Beth Pomes (Milford, Pa.) singled to put runners at first and second. Both runners advanced on a Giordano groundout, and Malloy and de la Llave followed with RBI singles to put Marist up 4-0. Malloy then took home on a stolen base by de la Llave.
Carpentier avoided trouble in the second and third, but Fairfield was able to break through with three unearned runs in the fourth. Jacoby delivered a big two RBI single.
The score would remain 5-3 until the bottom of the sixth. Marist freshman Heather Viola (East Meadow, Mass.) relieved Carpentier and was touched up for two runs in her first inning of work. Jacoby singled to cut the Marist lead to one and then scored on a wild pitch.
Both teams had chances in extra innings but could not come through with a clutch hit. Viola settled in nicely and pitched seven innings for the Red Foxes before the game was called. The game will be completed if necessary at the end of the season.
Giordano led Marist in game two. The shortstop went 3-for-6 with a run scored. Both Malloy and de la Llave each had two hits. The Red Foxes out hit the Stags 13-12 in the second game.
Marist will return to action when they play Central Connecticut on Thursday. The game will be played at the University of Connecticut because of problems with Central's field. Game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.
