Following two wins in Friday’s doubleheader against Quinnipiac, Marist softball’s offense put on a hitting clinic during the single game on Sunday.
The Red Foxes totaled 13 hits and four home runs while putting up crooked numbers in each of the first three innings en route to a 14-0 victory.
The final game of the series featured Marist’s (21-8, 3-0 MAAC) graduate student pitcher Kiley Myers and Quinnipiac’s (9-9, 0-3 MAAC) junior pitcher Sydney Horan in the circle. Both pitchers had solid outings in the Friday doubleheader, with Myers throwing a complete game shutout and Horan allowing two runs in seven innings pitched.
“We went into this weekend knowing that being the reigning MAAC champions would put a target on our backs,” Myers said.
The Red Foxes handled that pressure with ease, flipping the script and immediately putting pressure on Horan. Sophomore center fielder Peyton Pusey singled to begin the bottom of the first, continuing to thrive as the leadoff for Marist. Senior infielder Miah McDonald drove a grounder into left field which was misplayed by sophomore outfielder Noelle Reid, allowing Pusey to score from first.
The single gave Marist their third consecutive first-inning lead against the Bobcats, putting them up 1-0 early and the Red Foxes continued to pile on in the first.
A three-run shot by redshirt sophomore infielder Haley Ahr extended the lead to 4-0. Ahr came out swinging on the first pitch of the at-bat, hitting a screaming line drive over the right field fence for her fourth home run of the season.
Horan faced all nine batters in the first inning but the scoring damage halted at four runs. The offense continued rolling for Marist the next inning.
“Anytime you can get ahead early, it’s huge. Especially with our pitchers, it makes it really tough on opponents when we get a lead,” said head coach Joe Ausanio.
McDonald doubled off the fence and Pleasants dropped a single just out of the reach of a diving effort from junior center fielder Amanda Engel to score McDonald. With two outs, five consecutive runners reached safely to add another two runs, forcing Horan out of the game.
The pitching change created another matchup between junior pitcher Jaclyn Gonzalez and junior infielder Ronni Howard, who hit a grand slam off Gonzalez on Friday. Howard proved to have Gonzalez’s number again, punching a three-run home run over the left field fence and breaking the game wide open at 10-0.
Despite being overshadowed by her team’s offense, Myers was excellent on the mound allowing one hit and striking out three in four innings.
“Kiley [Myers] was incredible all weekend as well as our entire pitching staff,” said Ausanio.
In the bottom of the third, McDonald continued her 3-3 performance with a two-run blast, making it two straight games with a home run and a career-high eighth of the season.
Junior outfielder Kaitlyn Husic got in on the fun with a solo shot in the fourth and junior pitcher Isabella Milazzo struck out the side, putting an exclamation point on the 14-0 rout.
McDonald finished with six hits in nine at-bats, Ahr reached base safely in seven of 10 plate appearances and the pitching staff allowed a single run through all 19 innings of the series.
“We’re doing a tremendous job. One through nine has been hitting the ball which is very helpful and I’m just trying to do what I can for my team. I know someone will hit me in if I get on base and vice versa,” said McDonald.
Marist travels to Niagara, New York to take on Niagara University on Friday at 1 p.m. followed by a single game on Saturday.
Edited by Luke Sassa
Photo from Luke Sassa
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