Two softball goliaths through the early part of the MAAC play collided on Friday afternoon for the doubleheader portion of a three-game set in Fairfield, Connecticut. Marist extended its winning streak to a program-best 19 games in 8-6 and 6-0 wins.
The Red Foxes (30-5, 7-0 MAAC) traveled to Fairfield (14-17, 8-2 MAAC) despite being the home team because of expected inclement weather on Saturday, pushing the game to their opponent and up one day.
“You kind of almost have to laugh about the situation that we’ve had with our field, not really being able to have a full team practice somewhere,” said Marist head coach Joe Ausanio. “What they’re doing, to me, it’s a testament to them.”
Fairfield entered with a winning streak of its own at nine games, and both teams entered the series undefeated in conference play. Fairfield averaged just over a run allowed in eight conference games, while Marist averaged a tick under 10 runs scored in five conference games.
Senior pitcher Maddie Pleasants dominated, collecting four RBIs in game one and notching a career-high 14 strikeouts in game two.
“I think she’s realizing that she’s probably one of the best pitchers in the conference, and it’s just going out there with that mentality and attacking hitters. That’s what I’ve been waiting for from her for a long time,” said Ausanio.
The Stags’ pitching staff is led by junior pitcher Alyssa Weinberg, who recorded 16 strikeouts over seven innings in her last outing against Merrimack.
“The other day watching [Weinberg] against Merrimack, they really chased a lot of pitches out of the zone,” said Ausanio. “We had a really good approach today in that we weren’t going to chase her pitches out of the zone.”
Fairfield gave Weinberg early run support after the first two Stags reached safely in the first inning against graduate student pitcher Kiley Myers. Senior outfielder Charli Warren singled and came around to score for an early 1-0 lead. The lead signified a test Marist had not faced in quite some time.
Redshirt junior Haley Ahr responded immediately, taking the lead back 2-1 by sneaking a two-run home run opposite field over the right field fence. Ahr followed up the homer with a great defensive play in the next half-inning.
Myers continued facing pressure from Fairfield as the first two batters again reached safely to begin the second inning. Ahr saved a run with the bases loaded on a beautiful back-handed grab and throw home from the ground to record a crucial out.
“Kylie said it herself, she never feels like she pitches well here, but she’s a gamer, and even though she doesn’t feel like she has her best stuff, she still competes and still keeps us in the game,” said Ausanio.
Graduate student shortstop Miah McDonald added a run to the 3-1 lead, smoking a ball off the glove of junior shortstop Martina Gutierrez and scoring senior third baseman Ronni Howard in the second.
Both pitchers settled in from there until Fairfiled struck again, tying the game in the fifth. Whieldon singled to score senior second baseman Morgan Sylvestre and graduate student first baseman Faith Camilleri smacked a double down the left field line for a brand new game, tying the game 3-3. Marist once again took the lead back right away on back-to-back home runs.
One of the Red Foxes’ hottest hitters, Pleasants, went deep for the 10th time in 12 games to break the tie and take a 5-3 lead. Freshman second baseman Sienna Kunze followed her up with a moonshot to left field, extending the lead to 6-3.
Pleasants brought home two more runs, adding insurance with a two-run double in the sixth inning for sophomore pitcher Anna Sidlowski to come in for relief in the seventh inning with an 8-3 lead.
Fairfield cut the lead to 8-6, forcing Myers back into the game with two outs. Camilleri recorded her third RBI with a base knock, and freshman right fielder Ava Armuth brought the Stags within two on a two-RBI triple. Myers reentered with the tying run, junior left fielder Quinn McGonigle at the plate.
Myers put the threat to rest, striking out McGonigle to pass Marist’s first conference test and extend their win streak to a program-best 18 wins. Myers struck out four and allowed four hits and one earned run in her 15th win of the season.
Following her four-RBI game, Pleasants started in the circle for game two and silenced the Stags’ bats.
Kunze singled off sophomore pitcher Chela Kovar for Marist’s first run in the bottom of the first, and loaded the bases for Howard.
Howard punched a base hit into right field for two more runs, extending the lead to 3-0. McDonald smashed a no-doubt two-run homer in the bottom of the second, putting Marist up 5-0. Kovar walked Ahr and Pleasants singled, resulting in being pulled for sophomore pitcher Peyton Shields with one out in the inning.
“Miah seems like when runners get on base, she turns into this RBI machine,” said Ausanio. “It’s almost to the point now where you’re almost expecting it.”
Shields got out of the jam without allowing a run, and through three, Pleasants racked up five strikeouts with a 5-0 lead. She struck out the side in the fourth, and senior first baseman Maddie Gore recorded the final run and out in the Red Foxes’ 6-0 win.
Pleasants finished her second seven-inning shutout of the season with 14 strikeouts and tied the team lead at 16 home runs before McDonald hit her 17th in game two. Marist plays the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at 2:30 in Fairfield.
Edited by Marley Pope
Photo from John Jankowski
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