April 16, 2011
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Marist softball team swept a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader against Saint Peter's by scores of 8-0 (in five innings) and 7-3 on Saturday at Jaroschak Field. With the wins, the Red Foxes extended their winning streak to 13 games and ran their MAAC record to 8-0.
Freshman Paige Lewis (Temecula, Calif.) earned complete game victories in both contests to improve to 12-5 on the season. In game one, Lewis allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out nine. In the second game, she gave up seven hits and two walks, and also struck out nine. She also retired the final eight hitters she faced, and did not allow a hit in the last three innings.
Freshman third baseman Haley Birnbaum (Lido Beach, N.Y.) paced the Red Foxes offensively on the day by going 4-for-7 with seven RBIs. Junior second baseman Megan Lamoureux (Woonsocket, R.I.) also went 4-for-7, and had three runs scored and two RBIs.
In game one, the Red Foxes struck for four in the top of the first. An RBI double by Lamoureux brought home junior left fielder Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.) with Marist's first run. Birnbaum added a two-run single later in the inning.
In the third, a two-run double by Birnbaum brought home freshman catcher Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) and sophomore shortstop Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) to give the Red Foxes a 6-0 lead. Marist scored its final two runs of the contest on solo home runs by Lamoureux and Birnbaum in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
Saint Peter's scored twice in the bottom of the first to take the early lead in game two. Marist got a run back in the third on an RBI double by Zahka, which scored pinch-runner Nicole Van Loan (Kingston, N.Y.), but the Peahens added one in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
The Red Foxes took the lead for good by plating three in the fifth. Corriss drew a leadoff walk, and when Lamoureux singled and advanced to second on a throw to third, the Red Foxes had two runners in scoring position with none out. First baseman Nicole DiVirgilio (Aston, Pa.) then doubled to score both runners and tie the game at three apiece. DiVirgilio later scored the go-ahead run on an infield error.
Marist then added three insurance runs in the seventh. Zahka drew a one-out walk, and Koltz followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Birnbaum then doubled down the left-field line to score both and put the Red Foxes up 6-3. Junior right fielder Caitlin Schell (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) belted an RBI double two batters later to bring home Birnbaum and close out the scoring.
Marist is now 25-14 overall to go along with its perfect record in MAAC play; Saint Peter's fell to 1-23 overall and 1-7 in the MAAC.
The Red Foxes will be back in action on Sunday, when they head to Manhattan for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
