After postponing due to rain, the Red Foxes finally faced the Army Black Knights on April 5th for a double header.
The Red Foxes earned the first win, yet were unable to send home any runners in the second game, giving Army a shutout victory and splitting the double header.
In the first game, the Black Knights had a single run by Carrie Reilly in the second inning, who went two-for-two with a walk. The Knights held on to the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh, when Marist’s senior outfielder Kourtney Paul scored on a throwing error, tying the game at one. Army committed three errors in the first game, while Marist did not commit any. In an exciting seventh inning two-out rally, freshman infielder Caroline Baratta walked it off for Marist on an RBI single to right field, defeating Army with a final score of 2-1.
Junior pitcher Megan Beiermeister dominated on the mound throughout the game for the Red Foxes, pitching all seven innings and allowing just one earned run on eight hits with four strikeouts.
“It was a great game for us, we played strong while Army persisted,” said Beiermeister. “I was really happy with how the team played, and I wish we could’ve taken the next game, but they were a strong team.”
In the second game, the Knights earned their first and second run from Carrie Reilly with a solo home run to left field. Army continued to show their strength throughout the second game, quickly picking up speed and loading the bases with two outs in the top of the third when Lacey Swafford drew a walk to push their lead to 2-0.
From the beginning, the game seemed as if it could go in either direction, but Army wouldn’t let up until they saw a win. Throughout the doubleheader, Army proved to be a force to be reckoned with and showed their opponents just that while they chanted for each walk and run. Army’s dugout was rambunctious throughout, screaming for their teammates while the Red Foxes remained quiet.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Red Foxes had a chance to put a dent in Army’s lead when they loaded the bases with one out, but were ultimately unable to push anything past pitcher Courtney Springman, who threw 90 pitches across five scoreless innings for Army. Springman allowed just three hits and struck out six, tallying her 100th career strikeout and first career shutout.
Freshman pitcher Nicole Teague started for the Red Foxes and threw just over four innings, allowing two earned runs and five hits before she was replaced by junior pitcher Brooke Peterson, who allowed three earned runs and threw six wild pitches. Teague eventually saw the loss after returning to the mound late in the top of the seventh inning.
“Nicole did well, and Brooke came in and pushed Army but I guess it just wasn’t enough. We have a really strong team, but Army is just as strong,” said Beiermeister. “I’m glad we were able to work hard and pull through with the first win, and now we know what we need to work on.”
Marist ultimately allowed five runs and was outhit seven-to-four in the second game.
Although the Red Foxes persisted throughout the second game, they left eight runners on base, and were unable to pull through with a second win, falling to Army 5-0.
