April 10, 2011

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Sophomore Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) had seen enough.

After sophomore pitcher Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) escaped an eighth-inning jam, Koltz knew the offense had to step up. Leading off the bottom of the eighth and facing a full count, Koltz hit a walk-off home run to center field, giving the Marist softball team a 2-1 victory in game one of a doubleheader with Iona.

In game two, the Red Foxes erupted offensively as they earned a 13-5 win in a contest halted after five innings due to the eight-run rule.

With 2-1 and 13-5 victories over the Gaels, the Red Foxes improved to 21-14 overall and 6-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.

Offensively, the Red Foxes were led by Koltz, who compiled four hits, two home runs and four RBI in two games, and freshman Haley Birnbaum (Lido Beach, N.Y), who set the tone in game two by blasting a grand slam in the first inning. For the second consecutive day, Marist was guided by the pitching of Osterhaus and freshman Paige Lewis (Temecula, Calif.), each of whom earned their ninth wins on the season.

Game One

In a contest which saw only seven hits between both teams, Iona opened the scoring in the second inning when Alyssa Maiese hit a solo home run to left field, giving the Gaels a 1-0 advantage. Iona would maintain its lead until the bottom of sixth when junior Megan Lamoureux (Woonsocket, R.I.) singled to score junior Caitlin Schell (Poughkeepsie, N.Y) from second, knotting the game at one.

In the top of the eighth, the Red Foxes had retired just one batter with a runner on third. Osterhaus forced a fly out and a ground out to end the inning, setting the stage for Koltz. In her eight innings, Osterhaus struck out four, giving up just four hits and no walks.

Game Two

Much to the tenor of yesterday's doubleheader, the Red Foxes would ensure game two wasn't as close. Although the Gaels scored three runs in the first inning, Marist would double that amount in the bottom half of the inning. After freshman Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) walked with the bases loaded, scoring junior Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.), Birnbaum hit a grand slam, scoring Zahka, freshman Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.Y.), and Lamoureux. Next up was Koltz, who wasn't slowing down. After her solo homer, Marist led 6-3.

Iona cut the lead to 6-5 in the second hitting, but Koltz would soon assure that a game two walk-off hit would not be necessary. Her RBI double scored the first of three third inning runs, which gave Marist a 9-5 advantage. Sophomore Sarah Carmody (Camarillo, Calif.) and Schell would also drive in runs in the inning.

In the fourth inning, RBI singles by Zahka, Koltz, and Carmody rounded out the scoring for Marist, which established a commanding 13-5 lead. The game was called in five innings.

The Red Foxes will return to action on Thursday, April 14 at home in a doubleheader against Hartford. First pitch of game one of the twinbill is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.