WEST LONG BRANCH, New Jersey – The Marist softball team has set a single-season program record for victories. The Red Foxes won their 34^th game of the season following a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep at Monmouth on Saturday. Marist won the first game by a score of 5-4, and the second 8-3.

Here is a closer look at today's games:

Game One – Marist 5, Monmouth 4

After senior first baseman Maureen Duddy and freshman second baseman Claire Oberdorf drew walks to lead off the game, senior right fielder Janna Korak drove in both with a two-run double.

The Red Foxes maintained a 2-0 lead through three innings. In the fourth, Marist expanded its edge to 5-0. Freshman left fielder Casey Page and Oberdorf had RBIs on infield ground balls, and Duddy had an RBI single.

Monmouth got on the scoreboard on a two-run homer by right fielder Katie Baron with two outs in the fifth. In the sixth, a two-out, two-run single by second baseman Nicole Wiczorek brought the Hawks to within one. But red-shirt junoir Jessica Van Alphen came on with runners on first and second, and recorded a strikeout to end the rally.

Junior Jayne Oberdorf (7-3) went the first 5.2 innings for the Red Foxes, and struck out six. Oberdorf did not allow a hit until Baron's fifth-inning homer, and allowed just three hits in her outing. Van Alphen recorded the final four outs, three of which were strikeouts, for her fourth save. At the plate, junior catcher Rebecca Freeman and senior center fielder Colleen McWilliams each had two hits.

Amanda Riley (9-4) started and took the loss for Monmouth. Sydney Underhill pitched four innings of scoreless relief.

Game Two – Marist 8, Monmouth 3

Marist once again struck first with two runs in the first. Claire Oberdorf scored on a fielder's choice, and an RBI single by Korak brought in Freeman. However, Monmouth grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run homer by first baseman Justene Reyes. Marist then tied the game in the third on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of sophomore designated player Gabrielle Kelliher brought home senior shortstop Kyrsten Van Natta.

The score remained tied at three apiece until the Red Foxes broke the game open with a five-run fifth. All five runs scored with two outs. A McWilliams single scored Van Natta, and a Kelliher single scored McWilliams. Kelliher then scored following a throwing error on a stolen base by freshman Brandi Coon, who would later score on a wild pitch. Duddy then delivered an infield single, which brought home Page.

Freshman Megan Beiermeister (10-0) earned the win with 5.1 innings of scoreless relief. Underhill (13-11) took the loss for Monmouth.

Van Natta, McWilliams and Kelliher each had two hits apiece. Kelliher drove in two runs, and Van Natta scored two. Center fielder Emma Hill was 3-for-3 with a run scored for Monmouth.

Marist is now 34-8 overall, and 9-1 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes have taken over sole possession of first place, and are two games ahead in the loss column. They have won 11 straight games, and 21 of their last 22. Monmouth is 22-15 overall and 9-3 in the MAAC.   

Marist return to action on Sunday at Rider for two games. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.