May 1, 2011
Final Stats
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - The Red Foxes clinched a spot in the upcoming MAAC Tournament (May 12-14) with a doubleheader sweep of the Niagara Purple Eagles on Sunday. Marist improved their record to 31-18 with their two victories; Game 1, 13-12 and Game 2, 3-1. Five players had multiple hits in game one to lead the offensive explosion. In game two, solid team softball led to the victory. Sophomore Sarah Carmody (Camarillo, Calif.) went 5-9 on the afternoon with one home run and three RBIs.
Game 1: Marist 13 - Niagara 12
After a slow start to the game, as both teams went hitless through the first two innings, the Purple Eagles got on the scoreboard first with two runs in the bottom of the third. Marist quickly responded with two of their own in the top of the fourth off of a junior Nicole DiVirgilio (Aston, Pa.) two-run home run. In the bottom half of the frame, Niagara re-took the lead 5-2 on a three-run home run by Kristin Sito.
In keeping with the back-and-forth theme of the game, Marist responded in a big way in the top of the fifth. The team sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning scoring eight runs on seven hits. The fifth began with freshman Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) hitting a double to left field. She quickly scored as the next batter, junior Caitlin Schell (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) launched a home run out to deep center field. Sophomore Christina Lausch (Lancaster, Pa.) stepped to the plate next and promptly doubled. After a single by junior Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.), Carmody cleared the bases with her second home run of the season. After a hit by pitch, walk and single put three runners on base, Klemmer made her second appearance in the inning notable as she drove in two with a single up the middle. Corriss recorded the eighth RBI of the inning to give Marist a 10-5 lead.
Niagara closed the gap to 10-7 with solo scores in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. Looking for a larger lead, Marist knocked in three more runs in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) started the offense going with a double. She was promptly driven in by Klemmer's second double in the game. After a pitching change, Schell continued the run-scoring streak as she singled in Klemmer for the team's 12th run of the afternoon. Marist's lucky 13th run was driven in by Lausch, who singled. Her single gave her a perfect 3-3 game one.
Their 13th run was both lucky and necessary as Niagara plated five in the bottom of the seventh to fall one run short in their comeback attempt.
Sophomore Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) got the win for the Red Foxes as she improved her record to 13-7 on the season.
Overall in game one, eight of nine batters had hits with six recording RBIs. Carmody led the team with a 4-5, three RBI outing.
Game 2: Marist 3 - Niagara 1
In a complete 180 from the slugfest that was game one, the second game revolved around strong pitching and timely hitting.
Marist scored all three of their runs in two innings, the second and third. In the second, freshman Haley Birnbaum (Lido Beach, N.Y.) led off with a single up the middle. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, she was driven in by the six-hole hitter Koltz.
In the third, three consecutive singles by Corriss, Carmody and DiVirgilio set up the Marist scoring. DiVirgilio drove in Corriss, while a sacrifice fly by freshman Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) scored Carmody.
The Purple Eagles were pesky throughout as the managed to get hits in their first six innings, but it wasn't until a solo home run by Kayla Hines in the sixth, that they were able to get a run across on freshman pitcher Paige Lewis (Temecula, Calif.)
Lewis picked up the win on the strength of five strikeouts to increase her league-leading record to 15-7.
The Red Foxes will next be in action on Wednesday May 4 as they travel to Lafayette in a non-conference twinbill that is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
