DeLAND, Florida – The Marist softball team extended its winning streak to five with victories over Harvard and then Rhode Island in the Hatter Classic on Saturday. The Red Foxes had an exemplary day with the bats, scoring 19 runs total in a 10-1 win over Harvard in five innings, followed by a 9-8 win over Rhode Island.
Marist is now 5-4 on the season, including a 4-0 record through two days at the Hatter Classic.
- Marist wasted no time getting runs on the board, with a sacrifice from Meghan Davis followed by Caroline Baratta coming home on a wild pitch, making it a 2-0 ball game in the top of the first.
- Hannah Brock hit her second home run of the season in the top of the second, and Shea Walsh's RBI double brought home Maddie Gore, which gave Marist a 4-0 lead.
- The Red Foxes broke the game open with a six-run fourth. Kaitlyn Husic had an RBI infield single, and Miah McDonald drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Kaley Coltrain drove in two with a double, and McDonald scored on a throwing error on the play. Brock then added a sacrifice fly.
- Morgan Melito's RBI single got Harvard on the board in the bottom of the fourth, but the Crimson came no closer as Marist closed out the game in five innings.
- Kiley Myers (1-0) pitched a three-hitters, struck out four, and walked no one. She recorded 10 ground ball outs.
- Baratta reached safely in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
- Marist struck first again quickly as Walsh led off the top of the first with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a double by Kaitlin Husic.
- However, URI tied the game in the bottom of the first.
- Sam Freeland's sacrifice fly brought home Brock, and put Marist up 2-1 in the second.
- Gore's bases-clearing double keyed a four-run Marist third. Gore scored later on an infield error.
- Marist extended its lead to 8-1 in the sixth on an RBI double by Baratta and sacrifice fly by McDonald.
- URI responded with a five-run sixth, which made the score 8-6 going to the final inning.
- Husic's single in the seventh brought home Lauren Morrell with what proved to be a crucial insurance run. URI scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, and had the tying run on third and winning run on first, but Maddie Pleasants got a game-ending strikeout for her first collegiate save.
- Husic and Baratta finished with three hits apiece. Baratta finished the day with five hits, and reached base safely seven times.
- Meghan Haff (3-1) went 5.2 innings for the win.
- Cassie Swenson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and two walks for URI.
- Marist closes out play in the Hatter Classic on Sunday morning against Harvard.
- First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
