POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against Canisius on Saturday at Gartland Field. The Red Foxes won the first game 6-2, but the Golden Griffins rebounded for a 4-3 victory in game two.
Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) homered in both games for the Red Foxes. Zahka, junior third baseman Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) and sophomore right fielder Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) led the Red Foxes with three hits on the day.
Junior pitcher Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) pitched every inning of both games for the Red Foxes. In game one, she allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out four. In the second game, she gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out six. Two of the four runs she permitted in game two were unearned. Her record is now 9-6
In game one, a two-run homer by Lizzy Gatto gave Canisius a 2-0 lead in the first. Marist scored its first run in the second, as Klemmer came in on a throwing error. The Red Foxes then took the lead with three in the third on the strength of back-to-back homers by Zahka and Klemmer. A two-run single in the fourth by Koltz closed out the scoring.
Canisius again struck first in game two, scoring a run in the top of the first on an error. Marist tied the game in the second as sophomore second baseman Haley Birnbaum (Lido Beach, N.Y.) lead off with a double, and scored on a two-out single by senior center fielder Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.).
A two-run homer by Canisius catcher Stephanie Fentner gave the Golden Griffins a 3-1 lead in the fourth, but the Red Foxes tied the game in the fifth by hitting back-to-back home runs for the second straight game. This time, senior first baseman Nicole DiVirgilio (Aston, Pa.) and Zahka pulled off the feat with two outs.
However, Canisius scored the decisive run in the seventh, as a sacrifice fly by designated player Katie Medina brought in Gatto to make the score 4-3.
Prior to the doubleheader, Marist honored the four members of its senior class: Corriss, DiVirgilio, Megan Lamoureux (Woonsocket, R.I.) and Lindsay Durant (Martinsville, N.J.).
Marist is now 25-20 overall and 7-3 in MAAC play; Canisius is 15-28 overall and 7-5 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes return to action on Sunday, when they host Manhattan in a doubleheader at noon.
