POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - On Sunday afternoon the Marist softball team (26-21, 8-4 MAAC) split its doubleheader with conference foe Manhattan. After dropping the first game, 4-2, Marist came back in the second game and on the strength of its four-run first inning took the win 4-3. Sophomore Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) highlighted the Red Foxes' offensive effort on the afternoon with a three-run homer in Game Two. In the circle, junior Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) earned the Game Two victory with a gutty effort, while sophomore Paige Lewis (Temecula, Calif.) shut down the Jaspers for the save.
GAME ONE, MANHATTAN 4 - MARIST 2: While freshman Melanie White (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was cruising through the first two innings of action, with four strikeouts in her first six batters, the Marist bats came alive in the bottom of the second to spot her a two run lead.
In that frame the first two batters sophomores Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) and Haley Birnbaum (Lido Beach, N.Y.) reached base safely, Klemmer via a walk and Birnbaum with an infield single. After a ground out by freshman Taylor Kuzma (Freehold, N.J.) advanced both runners a base, senior Ashley Corriss (Sayville, N.Y.) came up and hit a single to center field to plate the Red Foxes' first two runs.
Unfortunately for Marist, its offense would be contained for the rest of the game as Manhattan's starting pitcher Kelsi Redding settled in and held the Red Foxes to just three infield singles over the final five innings.
With their pitcher in control, Manhattan fought back to take the lead in the top of the fourth on a three-run home run by Kate Bowen.
A solo Jasper run in the fifth inning would close the scoring of Game One at 4-2.
For the game, Kuzma collected two of Marist's six hits. In the circle, White went 4.2 innings and struck out five, but took the loss as she was charged with four runs, three of which were earned. In relief, Osterhaus pitched 2.1 innings and struck out four, while allowing just one hit and one walk.
GAME TWO, MARIST 4 - MANHATTAN 3: After a quiet offensive effort in Game One, the Red Foxes came out swinging in Game Two. In the bottom of the first inning with one out, consecutive walks were drawn by senior Megan Lamoureux (Woonsocket, R.I.) and junior Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) to set the stage for senior Nicole DiVirgilio (Aston, Pa.). On the first pitch she saw from Manhattan pitcher Kate Bowen, DiVirgilio hit a double to left field over the outstretched arms of Amanda Berrios to plate Lamoureux for the first run of the game. The next batter Alyssa Zahka then cleaned the bases with a three-run home run over the center field wall to give Marist a 4-0 lead. This was Zahka's third home run in four games and 11th RBI of the week.
Osterhaus, Game Two's starting pitcher flew through the Jaspers her first time through the lineup as she didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning. In that frame a combination of two Manhattan hits and two walks gave the visitors their first run of the game.
Manhattan carved away two more runs in the following inning via a two-run home run to make it a 4-3 game.
With the game on the line, Head Coach Joe Ausanio went to his bullpen and ushered in Paige Lewis. The sophomore would repay her coach's confidence in her with a 2.1 innings of scoreless, two-hit ball to clinch the win. Her defense also deserved kudos, as the potential game-tying run was gunned down at home plate in the sixth inning on a perfect throw in from Corriss in center field to a waiting DiVirgilio, who caught and continued the relay in from the center of the diamond to Lamoureux at home plate.
For the game, DiVirgilio and Birnbaum each had a pair of hits; a single and double, respectively. In the circle, Osterhaus garnered the victory to push her record to 10-6 on the season, while Lewis earned her second save of 2012.
Of note, this was only the second time all year, that the Red Foxes split a doubleheader by losing Game One and winning Game Two; at Yale on March 21 was the only other time.
Marist will heading into its final week of regular season action beginning on Wednesday when they host Army in a non-conference doubleheader. Game One is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
