Marist softball won yet another MAAC Conference series, this time claiming a 7-1 rubber game win over Iona to stave them off in the standings.
Marist (28-14, 10-4 MAAC) has now won four of the five MAAC series they’ve played; when considering their split with Siena, the Red Foxes have yet to lose a series to a MAAC foe.
Junior pitcher/utility Maddie Pleasants returned to the circle for Marist looking to replicate her success from game one of the weekend series, when she allowed just two runs in seven innings of work. Pleasants picked up right where she left off by neutralizing the Iona (14-23, 11-7 MAAC) offense in a nondescript 1-2-3 first inning.
After being shut out for 10 innings in game two of the series, the Red Fox offense entered Sunday trying to get back on track. Marist initially squared off against sophomore pitcher Maddy Lowry, who had tossed four scoreless frames in game two.
The Red Foxes received a gift when a miscommunication between Lowry and the third baseman, senior Emma Capuano; the duo allowed an infield fly from senior utility Miah McDonald to drop in and she reached scoring position on the mishap.
“I was just trying to go up there and make contact with the ball,” said McDonald. “Yesterday, I didn’t really have the best contact during the second game, so today I was just trying to drive the ball and get on.”
Redshirt sophomore infielder Haley Ahr immediately made the Gaels pay for the defensive gaffe, barreling a double into left field that scored McDonald. Pleasants then drew a walk and senior utility Alyssa Grupp followed it up with a flare single off the end of the bat to load the bases.
Iona’s defense continued to unravel in the first inning, as an errant throw home allowed two more Marist runs to score.
“Yesterday we had some opportunities to win [game two] and we didn’t get any timely hits, but today we were able to take advantage of their mistakes,” said head coach Joe Ausanio. “It’s always nice to bounce back from something like that.”
Just like that, Lowry was out of the game, replaced on the mound by junior pitcher Samantha Rieb, who is second in the MAAC conference in innings pitched. Sure enough, Rieb navigated her way out of the inning without surrendering any further damage.
Pleasants held the Gaels at bay once again in the top of the second, and sophomore outfielder Peyton Pusey kickstarted the offense in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double. McDonald then sprayed a ball to right field that fell in, and Pusey managed to score on the play thanks to some aggressive base running, putting Marist up 4-0.
Grupp extended the Marist lead further by knocking another single the opposite way off the end of the bat, bringing home Marist’s fifth run in just two innings.
Marist continued dominating in the third inning; Pleasants did her part with another scoreless frame, and freshman infielder Samantha Rogers powered the offense by yanking a leadoff solo homer to left field. The dinger knocked Rieb out of the game, and she was subsequently replaced by senior pitcher Alyssa DeJianne. Consecutive doubles from freshman catcher Rowan Drew and McDonald pushed the Marist lead to 7-0 heading into the fourth inning.
Iona finally broke up Pleasant’s shutout in the top of the seventh inning on a solo shot from sophomore infielder/outfielder Hailey Guerrero, but it was far too little, too late for the Gaels. Pleasants carved up Iona’s lineup for the second consecutive day, firing off a complete game one-run effort.
“We’re taking it one game at a time, one inning, one pitch at a time. We’re gonna continue pushing through and continue doing what we do,” said Pleasants.
“We’ve known all along how talented Maddie is on the mound,” said Ausiano. “We’re fortunate that she’s a two-way player… we’re just happy that she has the confidence right now and that she’s throwing the way she’s capable of doing.”
With the 7-1 victory, Marist will now hit the road to take on Saint Peter’s in Jersey City, N.J. for a midweek matchup against a Peacocks team residing near the bottom of the MAAC standings. With history on the horizon, one more home run from McDonald would push her to 15 on the season and the program record for Marist.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Photo from Marist Athletics via Stockton Photo
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