HONOLULU
- The Red Foxes string of
games versus nationally ranked teams continued Thursday night when they met up
with the #6 Texas Longhorns. Coming in with a 22-1 record and nine batters
hitting over .300, the Longhorns overpowered Marist by the score of 10-2.
Sophomore Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) highlighted Marist's offensive effort on
the night.
Texas flexed their offensive muscle early as the Longhorns plated
four runs in the first inning.
Unfazed, Marist looked to cut into the early deficit in its next
at bat in the second inning. Senior Nicole DiVirgilio (Aston, Pa.) led off with
a single to left field. Two batters later, sophomore Haley Birnbaum (Lido
Beach, N.Y.) singled to the left side of the infield to give the Red Foxes
runners at first and second with one out. After a fielder's choice by Sarah
Carmody (Camarillo, Calif.) advanced DiVirgilio to third base, while erasing Birnbaum,
Texas' starting pitcher Gabby Smith kept Marist off the scoreboard with an
inning-ending strike out.
Starting pitcher Paige Lewis (Temecula, Calif.) held the Longhorns
at bay in the next two innings before her teammates were able to manufacture
two runs in the top of the fourth. Marist's first two batters Alyssa Zahka
(Lexington, Mass.) and DiVirgilio kick started the offense with consecutive
walks. Following a sacrifice bunt by Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.)
advanced the duo to second and third base, a wild pitch allowed Zahka to score.
After two more walks loaded the bases, Aly Klemmer came up and rocketed a
single through the left side to plate DiVirgilio. For the second time in three
innings, Smith short-circuited a potent Marist offensive frame with strike outs
as she retired the Red Foxes' final two hitters.
With the score at 4-2 in Texas' favor, the Longhorns added a pair
of runs in each of their next three at bats to complete the scoring at 10-2 in
the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Red Foxes will continue their action in the Chevron Spring
Fling Tournament on Friday with two games, a 5:00 p.m. EST game versus #2
California and a 7:30 p.m. matchup versus Winthrop.
