April 30, 2011
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Marist softball team split a doubleheader with MAAC rival Canisius on Saturday afternoon, winning game one 3-1 in nine innings, before falling 4-3 in game two. The Red Foxes were led by freshman Haley Birnbaum (Lido Beach, N.Y.) who went 4-for-7 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Sophomore Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) threw nine innings in game one and gave up just one run on three hits. The Red Foxes record goes to 29-18 overall and 9-3 in conference play.
Game One: Marist 3 Canisius 1 F/9
Canisius jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Emily Helbig reached on an error to begin the inning and was pinch run for by Chloe Contreras. After Katie Lancellotti reached on a fielder's choice, the Golden Griffins had runners at first and second. Stephanie Pfentner then laid down a SAC bunt to advance the runners to second and third before Kelly Ulmer's SAC fly gave Canisius the lead.
Osterhaus kept the team in the game as she pitched three hitless frames between innings three through six.
Marist then tied the score in the top of the seventh on a one out home run from Birnbaum to send the game into extra innings.
Freshman Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) led off the top of the ninth with a walk. After a fly out, Birnbaum reached on an infield single putting runners at first and second with one out. Junior Caitlin Schell (Poughkeepise, N.Y.) then singled home the go-ahead run, scoring Zahka. A batter later, sophomore Christina Lausch (Lancaster, Pa.) gave Marist a 3-1 lead with a SAC fly to right field. Osterhaus set down the Griffs in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win improving her record to 12-7 on the year.
In the game, Birnbaum went 2-for-4, with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Schell and junior Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.) both went 2-for-4 to lead Marist.
Game Two: Canisius 4 Marist 3
The Golden Griffins again jumped out to a quick lead with a run in the first inning. Lauren Hope led off with a walk and advanced to second on a SAC bunt. She then stole third and scored. Canisius scored another run in the second inning on three straight singles including an RBI single by Katie Medina.
The teams traded scoreless innings until the sixth when Canisius stretched the lead to four. Helbig led off with a single off of Marist freshman pitcher Paige Lewis (Temecula, Calif.) and was pinch run for by Contreras. Contreras eventually came around to score on a Lancelotti single. Canisius pushed one more run across in the inning to push the lead to 4-0.
The Red Foxes would mount a rally in the seventh inning. After sophomore Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y) led off with a single, Birnbaum hit her second home run of the doubleheader to bring Marist within two. Schell walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Schell advanced to third on another wild pitch and scored on a throwing error on the play. Corriss then singled putting the tying run on base but Marist was unable to bring her around to score.
The Red Foxes were led in game two by Birnbaum who went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs. Koltz went 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Corriss and junior Nicole DiVirgilio (Aston, Pa.) added a hit apiece.
Lewis threw six innings and gave up three earned runs in the game.
The Red Foxes will travel cross-town to Niagara for an important MAAC doubleheader tomorrow, May 1, with the first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am.
