In their final regular season home game of the season, Marist softball (33-15, 15-5 MAAC conference) fell 6-4 to Canisius (19-19, 14-9 MAAC) on Sunday afternoon.
The team celebrated Senior Day and honored senior utility Alyssa Grupp and graduate student outfielder Sophia Recrosio, who are approaching the end of their Marist careers.
“I’m taking in every moment with this team,” said Grupp. “This team has been such a joy to play with, and I don’t want it to end.”
Senior utility Miah McDonald delivered another heroic effort in the loss, which has become commonplace for her this season. The team captain finished 3-4, including two singles, a stolen base and her 19th home run of the season, extending her single-season record for the program. McDonald, who has now homered in five straight games, plans to return to the team as a graduate student next season, which will be a major boost for the program.
The rest of the lineup wasn’t as successful against Canisius’ senior pitcher Megan Giese, who pitched a complete game. In addition to her strong outing on the mound, Giese had a multi-hit game at the plate, including a crucial RBI single.
“I’m just pleased with the approach that we had against her. This is the conference Pitcher of the Year the last two years…” said Marist head coach Joe Ausiano. “Hopefully, if we see her in the tournament, we’ll have a much better idea of how she is going to pitch to us and have a good plan of attack.”
Marist graduate student pitcher Kiley Myers had a strong performance of her own, allowing just two runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings and striking out four batters. One of her lone mistakes of the day came against senior outfielder Christie McGee-Ross, who hit a towering two-run home run to left-center field off of Myers.
McGee-Ross has been a thorn in Marist’s side throughout the entire weekend. In the three game series, McGee-Ross went 6-9 at the plate including two home runs and five RBI.
On the day dedicated to celebrating her Marist career, Grupp rose to the occasion with a timely go-ahead two-RBI single in the fifth inning to give Marist the lead.
“That was a really full circle moment,” said Grupp. “Coach Joe pulled me aside and told me, ‘This is your senior moment. Take it in. I know what you can do.’”
Ausiano has long believed in Grupp ever since he was impressed by her performance at a clinic in her hometown.
“I said to myself, ‘I’m not leaving Florida without that kid,’ She was already so good then. And she’s proven throughout the four years here to be an incredible player for us,” said Ausiano.
After retaking the lead on Grupp’s clutch single in the fifth inning, the Red Foxes quickly gave up the lead again in the sixth. Marist allowed two consecutive runners to reach base on a bunt and saw the game-tying run to score on a bunt by McGee-Ross. With the game tied 4-4, senior catcher Gianna Fazzolari hit a two-RBI single to give the Golden Griffins a 6-4 lead.
In Marist’s final opportunity at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, they looked poised to fight their way back into the game, but the comeback attempt fell just short. The team loaded the bases, but the game ended on a double play on a ball hit to the pitcher by Recrosio.
Despite the disappointing loss, Marist remains in first place in the MAAC as the season unwinds. With just five games remaining in the regular season, the team is laser-focused on preparing to make a run in the upcoming MAAC tournament.
Marist will travel to Easton, Pennsylvania, to take on Lafayette in an afternoon double-header on Wednesday, May 1 at 2 p.m.
Edited by Sam Murphy
Photo credit: Jaylen Rizzo
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