March 12, 2011
Box Score
NORFOLK, VA. - The Marist softball team extended its winning streak to three games after a sweep of Delaware and Maryland-Eastern Shore at the Spartan Classic hosted by Norfolk State on Saturday. The Red Foxes scored four unearned runs in a 4-3 win over the Blue Hens in the first game of the day, and used a 4-2 score to defeat Hawks in the night cap.
Freshman Haley Birnbaum (Lido Beach, N.Y.) led the Red Foxes' offense with a 4-for-7 day at the plate, and she had two hits in each game. She scored two runs and had two RBIs in the second game of the day. Sophomores Megan Lamoureux (Woonsocket, R.I.) and Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) each had three hits. Koltz's hits all came in the first game of the day.
In the first game against the Blue Hens, Marist (5-7) scored four runs in the first two innings and sent 13 batters to the plate during the stretch. With two outs in the top of the first the Red Foxes got back-to-back walks from freshman Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) and Nicole DiVirgilio (Aston, Pa.). Birnbuam reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Zahka scored from second on the error.
After a Koltz base hit to left field, freshman Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score DiVirgilio.
In the second with a run across already, Zahka used a sacrifice fly to right to score Lamoureux to give the Red Foxes a 4-0 lead after two innings of play.
Meanwhile, sophomore Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) retired the first 10 batters she faced through 3.1 innings. She earned the win over Delaware to improve to 3-2 this season with a complete game. Osterhaus struck out six, did not walk a batter and gave up six hits. She was perfect through the first 3.1 innings and maintained a no hitter for the first 3.2 innings.
In the bottom of the sixth with the score, 4-1 in favor of the Red Foxes, Delaware used a pair of home runs to left field and left center pull to within one run, 4-3. The long balls came courtesy of Lara Andrews and Amanda Stacevicz.
Delaware threatened in the seventh with two on and two outs, but Osterhaus got Jenny Richards to line out to Birnbaum for the final out of the game.
Against the Hawks, the Red Foxes again struck in the first inning. After Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.) scored on a ground out, Birnbaum belted a two-run homer to left center to score Lamoureux and herself. After the first inning, Marist held a 3-0 lead.
After Maryland-Eastern Shore (1-11) put up two runs in the top of the fourth, sophomore Sarah Carmody (Camarillo, Calif.) drove in Birnbaum with a double to right center.
Freshman Hayley Shelton (Pilot Mountain, N.C.) earned her first collegiate win. She threw a complete game and struck out four batters. She improved to 1-3 this year.
Marist will complete play at the Spartan Classic on Sunday against St. Francis (Pa.) and Norfolk State.
