Opening day was unkind to Marist softball at the Abilene Christian Tournament in Abilene, Texas. The pitching staff was shelled in an 8-2 loss against Houston Christian University and a 13-3 loss against the University of New Mexico.
Despite a difficult opening day, Marist responded the following two days, winning two of three to finish the tournament with a 2-3 record to begin the season.
Graduate student pitcher Kiley Myers, redshirt sophomore infielder Haley Ahr and freshman pitcher/outfielder Anna Sidlowski each received MAAC conference recognition following the five-game weekend. Myers received MAAC Pitcher of the Week recognition, Ahr received MAAC Player of the Week honors and Sidlowski was named MAAC Rookie of the Week.
The tournament commenced on Feb. 16 with Marist trotting Myers out to the circle as their opening-day starter against Houston Christian.
In 4 ⅓ innings, Myers surrendered seven hits and four earned runs, including a home run to sophomore outfielder AB Garcia. Sidlowski came on to relieve Myers and, although she escaped unscathed through the fifth inning, allowed three earned runs in the sixth to put the Huskies up 7-0 after six innings.
Junior pitcher Isabella Milazzo pitched the seventh inning, allowing one earned run. Houston Christian senior pitcher/utility Katy Janes kept the Red Foxes’ bats quiet, striking out 11 in six innings pitched.
Marist produced nothing offensively until Ahr’s two-RBI double during their last-ups. Ahr’s double produced the Red Foxes’ only runs in a game-one 8-2 defeat.
Junior utility/pitcher Maddie Pleasants started game two in the circle against New Mexico. Pleasants reached base safely in 4-7 at-bats through the first two games but only made it 3 ⅓ innings in the circle, allowing seven hits, three walks and five earned runs.
Myers and Milazzo also struggled in the circle. Myers conceded six hits and four earned runs in 2 ⅔ innings, while Milazzo surrendered three earned runs in an inning.
In the opposing dugout, Lobos’ freshman pitcher McKenna Guest went six innings strong conceding just three earned runs on four hits, leading New Mexico to a dominant 13-3 victory over the Red Foxes. Marist allowed 28 hits, scored just five runs offensively and committed seven fielding errors during day one.
The offense immediately responded on day two, scoring more runs in the first inning than in both games combined from the first day. The first-inning offensive burst gave Marist enough of a cushion to earn their first win of the season in a 6-3 victory over Houston Christian.
Anna Sidlowski made her first collegiate start and rose to the occasion. Sidlowski pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and striking out four.
Senior utility Miah McDonald started the scoring with a triple bringing sophomore outfielder Peyton Pusey home; McDonald stole home and gave Marist a quick 2-0 lead.
The Red Foxes’ seven hits and early aggressiveness on the bases created more scoring opportunities in the first. A wild pitch and an error by freshman catcher Heidi Maytum scored two of the six first-inning runs.
Of the 13 total Marist hits, McDonald and Ahr carried a heavy load as the three and four hitters in the lineup, going 3-4 and 3-5 respectively. Graduate student outfielder Sophia Recrosio also went 3-4 with a double.
In the second game of day two, Myers matched Sidlowski’s stellar outing with a career-high 10-strikeout complete game in a 4-3 victory against Abilene Christian University.
Sidlowski showed off her versatility going 2-4 with two doubles after her complete game pitching performance. McDonald finished the game 1-3 with two stolen bases and an RBI and Ahr produced a game-tying two RBI double in the sixth. Junior infielder Ronni Howard scored on a wild pitch to bring in the game-winning run for Marist in the seventh inning.
The Red Foxes finished the tournament on Sunday falling 10-7 to the University of New Mexico.
Senior utility Alyssa Grupp put Marist up early, doubling in two runs in the first inning. Pleasants went 3-3 with a walk, double and RBI but struggled again in the circle. The MAAC Preseason Player of the Year gave up six earned runs and walked five in 1 ⅓ innings.
Sidlowski came in to relieve Pleasants, but she struggled, issuing four walks and allowing four earned runs in 2 ⅓ innings. The offense supported the struggling pitching staff, scoring seven runs through the first four innings, including a McDonald home run that tied the game at seven.
The Lobos’ three-run fourth inning gave them a 10-7 lead and proved to be enough despite Myers blanking New Mexico for the remaining 2 ⅓ innings. Guest came in and troubled the Red Foxes again, going 2 ⅔ inning for the save; allowing just one hit on four strikeouts.
After an error-riddled first day, the Red Foxes played clean defense in the remaining three games of the tournament. Marist’s aggressiveness and efficiency on the basepaths was the primary takeaway from the weekend, with an 18-18 performance that included four swiped bags from Pusey and freshman outfielder Taylor Anderson.
Of the nine Red Foxes who received 10 at-bats during the tournament, seven are batting at least .300 AVG and eight have an OBP over .330.
The Red Foxes have since traveled to Boiling, North Carolina to begin the Red and Black Tournament. The first pitch of game one is set for today against Lindenwood University and is scheduled for 11 a.m. EST.
Edited by Cara Lacey and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Cara Lacey; Photo from Marist Athletics
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X and TikTok, and sign up to receive daily alerts here.
