Marist softball, (36-7-1 overall, 13-2-1 MAAC) sitting atop the MAAC, hosted the Manhattan Jaspers (10-27 overall, 7-11 in MAAC) sweeping the weekend series with a dominant 10-0 victory.
Graduate pitcher Kiley Myers started on the mound for the Red Foxes—hoisting an impressive 17-1 record and 8 shut-outs coming into today’s matchup. She would bring that total to 9 on the season, only allowing two hits and throwing six strikeouts through five innings.
After winning the first two out of three games in their season series against the Jaspers, Marist started blazing hot right off the first pitch.
Kicking off the first inning, junior outfielder Peyton Pusey launched a leadoff home run, giving the Red Foxes a quick 1-0 lead.
Graduate infielder Miah McDonald followed up by doubling down the right field line, tacking on a stolen base to get her to third.
After redshirt junior Haley Ahr walked to first, senior pitcher/infielder Maddie Pleasants homered to left field, bringing in both runners on base and improving the Red Fox lead to 4-0 early.
Marist continued to pile it on as sophomore infielder Samantha Rogers smashed a single-shot homer, as the Foxes finished the opening inning with 5 runs on 4 hits.
“It just starts with practice and what we do when no one is watching,” said Pleasants. “We put a lot of time in and a lot of us go practice and hit on our own and I think that leads to the success we have out here.”
In the second inning, Pusey found contact for the 200th time in her career as she cruised to second base for her second hit.
“It’s always a goal of mine to leave a place better than I found it and make a mark somewhere,” said Pusey.
Pleasants found more success in the third inning, rocketing her second homer of the day.
Senior infielder/outfielder Ronni Howard kept the bats hot, delivering a three-run homer as Marist took a commanding 9-0 lead through three innings.
Miah McDonald showed what it means to be a MAAC Player of the Year, making a spectacular cross body grab at third base for the Red Foxes’ first out of the fourth inning.
Pleasants continued her impressive day, bringing in McDonald on a RBI single as Marist worked their lead up to ten.
The Jaspers could not muster a run as five innings passed, forcing the five-inning mercy rule.
“We’re keeping our eye on the prize, we really want to host this tournament,” said head coach Joe Ausino. “We’re very focused, I was a little worried that we could have had a let down after nine home runs the other day, but they came out with a great approach and I’m really proud of the effort across the board.”
The Red Foxes will head over to Niagara Falls, NY to take on the Niagara Purple Eagles next Tuesday for a two game series.
Edited by August Lieberman
Graphic by Nathaniel Babcock
Photo Credit: John Jankowski
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