May 12, 2011
Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist softball team defeated the Manhattan Jaspers 4-3 in the opening game of the MAAC Championship at Gartland Field Thursday afternoon. The Red Foxes were led by freshman Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) who reached base three times and drove in two runs in the game. Sophomore Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) pitched a complete game to earn her 15th win on the season. The win improves Marist's record to 33-20.
Marist jumped ahead with a run in the top of the first inning. Junior Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.) led off the game with a single to center field. Later in the inning she advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a two-out RBI single by Klemmer.
Manhattan quickly tied the score at one in the bottom of the first on a two-out home run from Jaci Rahey.
After a scoreless second inning, the Red Foxes reclaimed the lead in the top of the third. Sophomore Nicole Van Loan (Kingston, N.Y) and advancing DiVirgilio to third. Two batters later sophomore Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) put the Red Foxes up 3-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Both pitchers traded scoreless innings with just two hits total for both teams from the bottom of the third through the top of the sixth.
Manhattan was able to push across a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Osterhaus worked out of trouble to prevent any further damage. After an RBI single from Nicole Michel, the Jaspers loaded the bases with no outs in the inning. Osterhaus then forced a pop up, strikeout and a lineout to escape the inning with Marist on top 3-2.
The Red Foxes pushed across an important insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. After Manhattan pitcher Ashley Rampino got two outs to begin the frame, Klemmer reached on an error and stole second. Freshman Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) reached on another error allowing Klemmer to score, stretching the Marist lead to 4-2.
After Osterhaus retired the leadoff batter in the bottom of the seventh, Rahey cut the lead in the half with her second home run of the day. But Osterhaus retired the next two Jaspers hitters to preserve the 4-3 victory for the Red Foxes.
Carmody went 2-for-4 in the game. Osterhaus finished with a complete game, giving up just three runs and striking out four.
The Red Foxes move on to face top-seeded Fairfield in the winners' bracket final. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, May 13 at the Softball Park.
