CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Marist softball team opened play at the College of Charleston Invitational on Friday. The Red Foxes lost to Memphis by a score of 7-5 in nine innings in their first game, and were defeated by New Mexico 9-2 in their second game.

Junior first baseman Maureen Duddy (San Mateo, Calif.) led the Red Foxes on the day by going 4-for-9 with two RBIs.

Here is a closer look at each game:

Game One – Memphis 7, Marist 5 (9 innings)

Marist scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first, when sophomore right fielder Janna Korak (Huntsville, Ala.) singled to drive in freshman left fielder Miranda Perez (Whittier, Calif.).

Memphis took the lead with two in the second, but Marist tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single by senior second baseman Janine Lalli (Eastchester, N.Y.), which plated Korak. Memphis then ran its lead to 4-2 with a pair of runs in the top of fifth, but Marist fought back with two runs in its half of the sixth with two outs. Korak, who had started the inning with a walk, scored following a single by freshman third baseman Brittany Colombo (Philadelphia, Pa.). Duddy's single brought home sophomore catcher Rebecca Freeman (Robbinsville, N.J.), which tied the score at four.

After neither team scored in the seventh, the international tiebreaker was applied in the eighth, with teams starting the inning with a runner on second and no outs. Memphis scored once in the top of the eighth, but Marist fought back again. With runners on second and third and two away, Duddy singled to bring home Lalli, but Colombo was thrown out at the plate trying to score the winning run.

Memphis then took the lead for good with two runs in the ninth.

Duddy was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Korak finished 2-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored. Freeman was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Senior Melanie White (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) went all nine innings and struck out seven. Her record is now 2-3.

For Memphis, center fielder Lindsay Crowdus went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Jordan Richwood (5-4) earned the win by allowing just one unearned run in three innings of relief.    

Game Two – New Mexico 9, Marist 2

The Lobos broke the game open by scoring five runs in the second. Marist scored its first run in the third as junior shortstop Kyrsten Van Natta (Maplewood, N.J.) drew a leadoff walk, and then scored on an RBI groundout by Korak. The teams then traded runs in the sixth, as Marist got back on the board thanks to the first collegiate home run by freshman catcher Samantha Reilly (Toms River, N.J.). However, New Mexico expanded its lead thanks to a three-run seventh.

Duddy and Reilly each had a pair of hits for the Red Foxes. In addition to her homer, Reilly had Marist's only other extra-base hit in the game, a double. In the circle, sophomore Jayne Oberdorf (Greensburg, Pa.) went the distance with five strikeouts. Oberdorf's record now stands at 2-2.

For New Mexico, second baseman Shelbie Frank led the way offensively by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a triple. Catcher Chelsea Johnson drove in three runs, and shortstop Michala Erickson scored three times. Tess McPherson (1-3) scattered six hits over six innings to earn the victory.

Marist is now 4-7 on the season. The Red Foxes will play a total of five games in three days at the tournament. On Saturday, they will face Wisconsin at 11 a.m. and Furman at 6 p.m. On Sunday, Marist will wrap up tournament play against host College of Charleston at 1:30 p.m.