DURHAM, N.C. – The Marist softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at North Carolina Central on Tuesday. After falling in the first game by a score of 5-1, the Red Foxes earned a 9-4 triumph in the second game.

Freshman third baseman Brittany Colombo (Philadelphia, Pa.) had a team-high four hits on the day, going 4-for-8 with a run scored and an RBI.

The second game victory gave head coach Joe Ausanio his 150^th win in his six-plus seasons wit e h the Red Foxes.

Game One – N.C. Central 5, Marist 1

Colombo was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sophomore Jayne Oberdorf (Greensburg, Pa.) allowed just three hits and two walks in a complete game, and two of her five runs allowed were unearned. Oberdorf (3-3) struck out four.

In the top of the third, junior shortstop Kyrsten Van Natta (Maplewood, N.J.) led off with an infield single, and was sacrificed to second by junior center fielder Colleen McWilliams (Monrovia, Calif.). With two outs, Colombo's single to center brought home Van Natta with the game's first run.

N.C. Central took the lead with two runs in the fourth, both of which were unearned due to an error. The Lady Eagles made it 3-1 in the fifth, and put the game away on a two-run homer by designated player Demiree Briones in the sixth.

Dominique Wilson (3-4) struck out six and allowed just two walks in a complete game for North Carolina Central.

Game Two – Marist 9, N.C. Central 4

Four Red Foxes – Colombo, Van Natta, McWilliams and sophomore designated player Rebecca Freeman (Robbinsville, N.J.) – enjoyed two-hit games as the team pounded out a total of 11. Freeman homered and drove in three runs, while Van Natta and McWilliams each knocked in two. Van Natta and junior first baseman Maureen Duddy (San Mateo, Calif.) each scored two runs.

Senior Melanie White (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) went the distance for the Red Foxes in the circle. White (3-4) scattered seven hits, walked three and struck out three while getting through seven innings in 98 pitches.

Duddy started the game by drawing an eight-pitch leadoff walk. She came in on Freeman's two-out, two-run homer. The Red Foxes added two more in the second. Van Natta singled to lead off the inning, and was brought home by the first of McWilliams' two doubles. McWilliams later came home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Jordynn Barrera (Clinton, Utah).

N.C. Central closed the gap with a run in the third and two in the fourth, but Marist responded with a three-run fifth, which included a two-run single by Van Natta and an RBI double by McWilliams.

In the sixth, Marist scored twice due to a bases-loaded walk drawn by sophomore right fielder Janna Korak (Huntsville, Ala.), and an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Freeman.

London Booker (5-4), who went 4.2 innings, took the loss for the Lady Eagles. Catcher Emerie Germ went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Marist is now 6-10 on the season; N.C. Central is 8-8.

Marist returns to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Hampton. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.