A complete team effort was on display over the weekend, as Marist softball swept their games at the Hampton/Norfolk State Classic tournament.
Marist (11-4) improved their winning streak to nine games following the team’s undefeated tournament performance–– the longest winning streak for Marist softball since 2016.
Extra base hits, aggressive baserunning, shutdown pitching and stifling defense were common themes as everyone contributed for the Red Foxes throughout their stay in Virginia.
Marist opened the weekend against a familiar opponent, Hampton University, who they beat twice during the Red and Black Classic.
However, it was the first start for graduate student pitcher Kiley Myers against the Pirates and she took full advantage of it. The decorated pitcher struck out a career-high 11 batters in a 9-2 complete-game victory.
Reigning MAAC conference Player of the Week, sophomore outfielder Peyton Pusey, picked up where she left off with a double, triple and two RBIs. Freshman pitcher/outfielder Anna Sidlowski and junior outfielder Lauren Morrell also tripled; the junior added an RBI and the freshman added three. Five of the team’s nine RBIs came from the 6-9 hitters during the 9-2 rout.
Marist’s offensive explosiveness continued in the next game against Fairleigh Dickinson University. The team recorded a season-high 14 hits and nearly matched their hit total with 13 runs. The lethal 2-3-4 spots in the lineup, composed of senior utility Miah McDonald, junior pitcher/utility Maddie Pleasants and redshirt sophomore infielder Haley Ahr, combined for seven hits.
Ahr hit two doubles, while McDonald and Pleasants each homered; McDonald also tripled, tallying four total RBIs.
Junior infielder Ronni Howard, freshman catcher Roman Drew and junior Kaitlyn Husic each recorded extra-base hits while Sidlowski and junior Isabella Milazzo combined for five innings pitched in the 13-0 victory, as the game ended due to mercy rule.
The Red Foxes forced a second straight shortened game the next day against Central Connecticut State University, handing the Blue Devils their first loss of their 10-win season. Pleasants and Myers combined for eight strikeouts, while McDonald and Ahr together contributed 10 RBIs, each homering to lead Marist to a 13-3 six-inning victory.
On Sunday, Marist faced Norfolk State University in their first of two games with Sidlowski starting in the circle. The freshman earned her first collegiate shutout, allowing just four hits through seven innings. Marist scored all five of their runs in the first two innings, including a second-inning McDonald double, to defeat the Spartans 5-0.
The Red Foxes finished the tournament with an 8-0 victory against Fairleigh Dickinson in five innings. Pleasants and Ahr each recorded a double and two RBIs and sophomore catcher Isabella Manory ended the game with a two-RBI single.
Ahr’s average now stands at .468, ranking inside the top 50 nationally; Myers went five strong innings in the circle, allowing just one hit and no runs to drop her season ERA to 2.33.
Manory faced her twin sister and Central Connecticut sophomore outfielder Adriana Manory for the first time on Saturday while recording a hit in all three games played in the tournament. The hitting streak improved her season average to .292.
On the basepaths, Marist recorded 17 total stolen bases in the tournament; Pusey eclipsed double-digit steals. Through 15 games last season, Pusey only had two stolen bases compared to a perfect 10 for 10 so far this season. As a whole, the Red Foxes are 43 for 47 on stolen base attempts.
The squad also has five players with an OPS of .900 or above, including Pusey, McDonald, Pleasants, Ahr, senior utility Alyssa Grupp and graduate student outfielder Sophia Recrosio. Sidlwoski possesses a .895 OPS, accompanying her stellar pitching with offensive stability that forces her inclusion in the starting lineup.
Marist takes their nine-game winning streak to Jacksonville, F.L. for the Jacksonville Spring Break Challenge. The spring break tournaments left a sour taste with the Red Foxes last season, as they finished 1-9 and were outscored 63-34.
They will face tough opponents in this year’s tournament, including the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University. North Florida has faced ESPN’s 15th-ranked University of Florida and blew out the University of Manhattan, a MAAC opponent, 15-0. Jacksonville beat ESPN’s 12th-ranked Florida State University 6-5 and also handily beat Manhattan twice.
Marist looks to have a better showing in Florida this season, beginning spring break play with Presbyterian College on Friday, March 9. The first pitch scheduled is for 9 a.m.
Edited by Cara Lacey and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Cara Lacey; Photo from Marist Athletics
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