BUFFALO, N.Y. – Facing off against a potent Canisius lineup that featured five players hitting over .300, the Marist softball team knew that they would need to not only keep the Golden Griffins contained with strong pitching, but to also score runs should the host team break through offensively. In Game One behind a 10-run outburst and solid pitching from senior Emily Osterhaus (Suwanee, Ga.), the Red Foxes cruised to a 10-2 victory. In Game Two, Canisius (17-14, 2-2 MAAC) jumped out to a 6-1 lead and held off a late Marist (14-16, 3-1 MAAC) charge to earn the doubleheader split with a 6-4 win.
Freshman Nicole Cheek (Simi Valley, Calif.) and junior Alyssa Zahka (Lexington, Mass.) spearheaded the Red Foxes' offensive production with five RBIs each; Cheek drove in three runs with a triple in the fifth inning of Game One, while Zahka plated three runs with a seventh inning home run in the same contest.
In the circle, Osterhaus led a trio of Marist hurlers, who saw action on Saturday with a complete game, eight-hitter in Game One. The senior captain held Canisius to just two earned runs, while striking out three. In Game Two, junior Paige Lewis (Temecula, Calif.) limited the Golden Griffins to just three hits and one earned run in a 3.1 inning relief outing.
GAME ONE, MARIST 10 – CANISIUS 2: The Red Foxes began their offensive explosive versus the Golden Griffins in the top of the third inning when Cheek drove in sophomores Janine Lalli (Eastchester, N.Y.) and Taylor Kuzma (Freehold, N.J.) with a single through the left side of the infield.
Down 2-0, Canisius immediately responded in the bottom of the third with a single run to make it 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
After a quiet fourth inning, Marist broke open the game in the fifth with four runs. Once again, Nicole Cheek was the catalyst as the freshman tripled down the left field line to plate three Red Foxes. The following batter, Alyssa Zahka drove in Cheek with a bunt single to third base.
A solo home run by Canisius' Val Nappo in the bottom of the frame closed the deficit to four runs at 6-2.
Marist closed out its second-highest scoring game of 2013 with four more scores in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Danielle Koltz (Chenango Bridge, N.Y.) started the scoring drive with a one-out double to right-centerfield. After Cheek drew an eight-pitch walk, Zahka made the Golden Griffins pay with a three-run home run blast over the left field wall. On the next pitch of the game, freshman Kyrsten Van Natta (Maplewood, N.J.) connected on her second home run of 2013 as she took Jenn Solis' offering deep and deposited it over the left field fence at the Demske Sports Complex.
In their 10-2 victory, seven of the nine Red Foxes in the starting lineup registered hits, led by two each from Cheek and Zahka. As a team, Marist outhit Canisius 9-8.
Osterhaus evened her 2013 record at 6-6 with the complete game win. Her final line consisted of 7.0 innings pitched, eight hits allowed, two earned runs and three strikeouts.
GAME TWO, CANISIUS 6 – MARIST 4: The Red Foxes began Game Two out successfully as leadoff hitter Maureen Duddy (San Mateo, Calif.) began the scoring action with a single to center field. After a sacrifice bunt and fly out to right field moved the freshman over to third base, Alyssa Zahka drove her in with a single to the left side of the infield.
Down 1-0, the Golden Griffins took their first lead of the day in a big way in the third inning when the hosts batted around and plated six runs on six hits, including three of the extra-base variety.
Never one to give up, the Red Foxes would mount a comeback attempt beginning in the fifth inning. Junior Aly Klemmer (Hamilton, N.J.) kicked off the rally with a lead-off single. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, she would come around to score when Lalli doubled to right-center field. Two batters later, Lalli would score when freshman Colleen McWilliams (Monrovia, Calif.) swatted a two-run home run out to right field to make it a 6-4 game.
Unfortunately for Marist, preseason All-MAAC pitcher Jen Consaul held off any further comeback attempts for the 6-4 victory.
For the game, Canisius outhit Marist 10-6. Six Red Foxes collected individual hits.
Starting pitcher, Melanie White (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) took the loss after going 2.2 innings and allowing five earned runs on seven hits and one walk. The sophomore struck out three Canisius batters before giving way to Paige Lewis. The junior hurler closed out the final 3.1 innings of action.
The Red Foxes will finish their road trip to Western New York with a doubleheader on Sunday at Niagara. Game One versus the Purple Eagles is set for 12 p.m.
