BALTIMORE, Md. - Keeping with the formula that led them to two wins on Sunday, the Marist softball team rode an explosive offense and strong pitching to two more wins to close out the UMBC Dawg Pound Invitational with a perfect 4-0 mark. Shutdown pitching by Melanie White (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) and 10 combined RBIs between Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) and Nicole Cheek (Simi Valley, Calif.) led the Red Foxes to victories over Rhode Island and UMBC on Monday.
GAME 1, MARIST 6 - RHODE ISLAND 0:
After surviving a two-hit first inning by the Rams, Melanie White settled in and cruised with the knowledge that she had an offense behind her that scored 15 runs on Sunday. Her only other blemish on the afternoon was a third inning single; the sophomore hurler allowed no walks or hit by pitches in her complete game effort.
With Rhode Island's bats neutralized two runs by the Red Foxes in the bottom of the first inning would be all that they would need to earn the victory. Nicole Cheek drove in the first run on a single to the left side and came around to score on an Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) single in the next at bat.
Marist added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Danielle Koltz singled in two with a base hit to right-center field. Cheek rounded out the scoring when she plated Kyrsten Van Natta (Maplewood, N.J.).
The Red Foxes' sixth and final run came in with a lead-off home run by Van Natta in the bottom of the sixth inning on the first pitch that she saw.
For the game, Van Natta (2-3), Cheek (2-4) and Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) (2-3) all registered multiple hits for Marist, who finished with 10 total base knocks. Cheek (2) and Koltz (2) each drove in multiple runs.
In the circle, White earned her first career complete game shutout with a final pitching line of 7.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed and four strikeouts. She needed just 72 pitched to shut down Rams.
GAME 2: MARIST 7 - UMBC 6 (F/8):
In their second game of the day, the Red Foxes demonstrated a "bend, but not break" disposition as they quickly saw their 1-0 first inning lead evaporate with a 4-spot on scoreboard by the host UMBC club.
Down 4-1, Marist sent nine batters to the plate in the second inning and scored five runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Koltz got the Red Foxes their lead back with a grand slam home run over the right-center field wall. Cheek, the next Marist batter, deposited a long ball over the outfield wall, as she expanded the Red Foxes' lead to 6-4 with her second homer in as many days.
Sophomore hurler Janine Lalli (Eastchester, N.Y.) settled down after her rough first inning to limit UMBC to just one run over the next four frames.
With the score 6-5, UMBC evened up the score in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI single.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the teams played the eighth inning under the International Tie Breaker rule, where the player, who made the last out in the previous inning is placed on second base to start play. Marist took advantage of this situation and efficiently manufactured its go-ahead run on a Christina Lausch (Lancaster, Pa.) RBI ground out.
Working her second full inning of action in the circle, senior pitcher Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.) stranded the placed UMBC runner at third base with a dramatic foul out and strike out combination to close out the7-6 victory.
For the game, the third and fourth hitters in Marist's lineup, Koltz (3-3) and Cheek (3-4) went 6-7 with six combined RBIs; Koltz (5), Cheek (1). Koltz' five RBIs are a single-game career high for the senior. Van Natta joined the duo with multiple hits as the freshman leadoff batter went 2-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
In the circle, Osterhaus evened her 2013 record out at 2-2 with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief pitching. The senior struck out two, while allowing one hit.
For the doubleheader, Marist hit .339 (19-56) and had a .448 (30-67) on-base percentage. Van Natta posted the highest on-base percentage at .750 (6-8). Koltz (7) and Cheek (3) each finished with multiple RBIs.
White, Osterhaus and Lalli combined for a 2.80 ERA and seven strikeouts in 15 innings pitched.
Marist will next be in action on the West Coast with three days of competition at the San Diego Classic II. Beginning on Friday, March 15, the Red Foxes will play Bryant, UNLV, San Diego, San Jose State and Texas Tech.
Record Book Notes:
With two victories this weekend, Osterhaus sits in sole possession of fourth place all-time in Marist's record books with 31 career wins; Caitlin Carpenter ('06-09) won 30.
With seven RBIs on the weekend and 13 for the season, Koltz has passed three Red Foxes in the all-time RBI list. She currently sits in a tie for sixth with Laurie Sleight ('93-96) with 91 career RBIs.
