POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Fairfield on Sunday on Senior Day. The Red Foxes prevailed in game one, 7-1, but lost the second game, 4-3.
Senior second baseman Janine Lalli homered in both ends of the doubleheader. Senior Melanie White pitched two complete games for the Red Foxes.
Here is a closer look at each game:
Game One – Marist 7, Fairfield 1
Fairfield got on the scoreboard first with unearned run in the top of the second, but Marist quickly answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. An infield single by freshman right fielder Kourtney Paul tied the game. Junior first baseman Maureen Duddy followed with an RBI single, and junior shortstop Kyrsten Van Natta added a sacrifice fly to give the Red Foxes a 3-1 lead.
Marist added a run in the fourth on Lalli's leadoff homer. The Red Foxes then expanded their lead with a three-run fifth, thanks to a two-run double by junior center fielder Colleen McWilliams and an RBI single by Lalli.
White scattered seven hits, and struck out seven against just two walks.
Lauren Falkanger (8-10), who went the first 4.1 innings, took the loss for the Stags.
Game Two – Fairfield 4, Marist 3
Fairfield struck first on a three-run homer down the left field line in the top of the first by right fielder Kate Robinson.
The Stags maintained their 3-0 lead until the fourth. With one out, freshman left fielder Gabrielle Kelliher doubled, and Lalli belted a two-out, two-run homer to right-center, which cut the Red Foxes' deficit to one. Kelliher then belted a leadoff homer to left-center in the sixth to tie the game.
In the seventh, Fairfield second baseman Kristen Ball reached second on a leadoff error. A two-out base hit by left fielder Lauren Filicia brought home Ball. The Red Foxes then were retired in order in the seventh.
White (13-11) allowed just six hits and two walks while striking out four. Destinee Pallotto (6-8) tossed a complete game for Fairfield. Pallotto allowed six hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Marist is now 22-26 overall and 7-9 in the MAAC. Fairfield is 16-21 overall and 11-5 in the MAAC.
Sunday's contests marked the home finale for the Red Foxes, who will close out the regular season with a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday at Lafayette, followed by MAAC contests at Manhattan and Saint Peter's on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Prior to game one, Marist honored the three members of its senior class – Lalli, White and Taylor Kuzma. Kuzma had not appeared in a game due to injury this season, but was in the game one starting lineup as the designated player and cleanup hitter. When her spot in the lineup came up, she was announced and then pinch-hit for.
