LAWRENCEVILLE, New Jersey – The Marist softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Rider on Saturday.
 
The Red Foxes dropped the first game 5-4 but rebounded for a 5-3 win in game two. Alyssa Grupp had a team-best five hits on the day and Peyton Pusey scored three runs. The Marist pitching staff of Calista Phippen, Maddie Pleasants, and Kiley Myers combined for zero walks on the day.
 

Game One

• Marist scored the game's first run in the top of the third when Pusey came home on the front end of a double steal with Sam Freeland.
• Maddie Pleasants' solo homer leading off the top of the fourth extended the Red Foxes' lead to 2-0.
• Rider tied it in the bottom of the fourth on Laneya Wright's two-run homer.
• Rider took the lead with a three-run fifth. Chaela Crowder had a twice-deflected two-run single and Olivia Burroughs had a sacrifice fly.
• Marist got two back in the top of the sixth. An infield pop-up off the bat of Isabella Manory fell for a base hit, which scored pinch-runner Lauren Morrell. Pusey then drew a bases-loaded walk, which forced home Grupp.
• Grupp and Pleasants each finished with two hits.
• Pusey walked twice, stole two bases, and scored a run.
• Phippen struck out five in 5.2 innings.

 

Game Two

• Marist scored twice in the top of the first. Grupp's single through the right side brought home Freeland and Haley Ahr, who had both previously singled.
• Pleasants' RBI single in the third brought home Pusey and extended Marist's lead to 3-0.
• In the fourth, Rider got on the board when Julia Harsche's single brought home Wright. However, Shea Walsh threw out Olivia Burroughs at the plate from right field to keep Marist's lead 3-1.
• In the top of the fifth, Pusey doubled to lead off the innings, and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Pleasants.
• Rider scored twice in the sixth to cut its deficit to 4-3. Wright had a sacrifice fly and Brianna Koonce brought home a run with an infield single.
• In the top of the seventh, Grupp's single brought home pinch-runner Ronni Howard with the game's final run.
• Grupp finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Pusey was 2-for-4 with two runs. Pleasants drove in two runs.
• Kiley Myers went the distance, struck out two, and did not walk any.

 

Records

• Marist is now 20-23 overall and 7-3 in the MAAC.
• Rider is 13-23 overall and 3-5 in the MAAC.

 

Up Next

• Marist is scheduled to face Mount St. Mary's for a road doubleheader on Sunday.
• First pitch of game one is set for noon.
• The games will be carried on ESPN+.