College Station, TX — On Friday, May 16, the Marist softball team kicks off the College Station regional, taking on Liberty at 1 p.m. EST on Davis Field in College Station, Texas. The double-elimination College Station regional tournament features No. 1 Texas A&M, Liberty, Marist and Saint Francis.
Parody and parallels are fingerprinted all over game one between the Red Foxes and Flames. For starters, Liberty and Marist finished with 47 wins, tied with Oregon for the third-most in the nation. Additionally, both mid-major schools saw extraordinary success throughout the season under the leadership of former professional athletes who competed at the highest level.
There is plenty of mutual respect between Liberty head coach Dot Richardson and Marist head coach Joe Ausanio, who each saw success in their own playing careers. Ausanio called Richardson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, “arguably the best softball player that’s ever walked the Earth,” referring to her days of stardom at UCLA and the USA Olympic Team.
As for Ausanio, the Red Foxes’ bench boss fulfilled the dreams of many by donning the pinstripes as a New York Yankee. Ausanio pitched at Jacksonville University before being selected in the 11th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went on to debut for the Yankees and appeared in 41 games over his major league career.
“[He is] very respected and has done amazing things,” Richardson said of Ausanio.
After their playing days, the calling of coaching arrived. They each inherited programs much worse off than they are now; Ausanio won 16 games in 2009 at Marist and Richardson won 11 in 2014 at Liberty, their respective first seasons as head coaches. Similarly, they each saw rapid growth, surpassing 30 wins in their third year at the helm of their respective programs – another parallel bringing them to where they stand today.
The similarities in storylines go deeper than coaching, with both teams also holding veteran-laden rosters this season filled with talent from top-to-bottom. Plenty of players on both sides have experience playing in a prior NCAA Regional Tournament.
“Being one out away from Supers left a really bad taste,” said Liberty senior outfielder Rachel Roupe. “I think this year, we’ve been here, a lot of us have done that. We’re excited to get on the field.”
Roupe hit a team-high 20 home runs, drove in 64 runs for the Flames and received plenty of praise from Richardson and her senior teammate, pitcher Elena Escobar. For the Red Foxes, graduate student shortstop Miah McDonald hit a MAAC-record 24 home runs and shared similar sentiments, explaining that most of this Marist team experienced a regional tournament in 2023 at Florida State. McDonald believes she and her teammates held a sour taste in their mouths coming into the season as well.
“We took last year personal because we were the best team in the conference and we went out in the second round,” said McDonald as graduate student pitcher Kiley Myers nodded in agreement.
With both teams raring to go this season, they provided fireworks all year long. The month of March treated both teams very well; Marist finished the month undefeated, while the only two losses for Liberty came to No. 20 Duke.
Come conference tournament time, both teams locked up the top seed in their respective conferences, eyeing the conference crown and more. The coaches and players believe these are the strongest teams in their tenure, if not program history.
“We can battle with any team we face,” said McDonald.
“We’re very much prepared. In the beginning of the season, when we’re beating Alabama, UCF, other strong squads, that momentum’s carried throughout the season,” said Roupe.
The confidence did not come without conflict as the conference tournaments brought adversity that neither squad experienced much during the regular season. Liberty lost 7-2 to Jacksonville State while Marist’s scorching offense suddenly mustered only three total runs over two games.
“The conference tournament taught us that we need to be together to win. It takes all of us and it doesn’t matter who gets the job done; someone needs to step up and do it,” said Escobar, who allowed one run in 15 innings pitched over two days in the CUSA tournament.
Despite the hiccups, both teams won by run rule in their respective conference championship games, proving why they belong. The Flames avenged their loss against Jacksonville State with an 8-0 victory and Marist beat Siena 10-2.
The Red Foxes and Flames feel they are now at full speed, bringing them to this game. The excitement to be in College Station is palpable. The senior and graduate student leaders are cherishing the waning moments they have left while also preparing for battle.
“We’re playing freely, we’re enjoying ourselves and we’re trusting our gifts,” said Roupe.
“[We’re] making a statement,” said the MAAC All-Championship MVP Myers. “We’re the first team in MAAC history to be a number three seed, so [we’re] continuing to reach those milestones and make an impact before we leave.”
Here’s a final similarity: both teams own a nationally top-10 ERA and rank in the top-25 for RBI.
So, despite all the parallels running rampant between the two programs, one will separate itself through a highly competitive matchup. Liberty feels in control and has a strong schedule to back it, while the Red Foxes are embracing the outcast energy they are receiving.
“I don’t think that the girls on this team are going to be bothered by the big lights. They’re very focused on the task at hand,” said Ausanio of his Marist squad.
The first pitch is scheduled for Friday, May 16, at noon local time and 1 p.m. EST and will be streamed on ESPN+. The results of Friday’s game determine further scheduling.
Edited by Max Rosen
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore
Photos via Marist Athletics
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