College Station, TX — No. 3 Marist softball won its first-ever NCAA tournament game 8-0 against No. 4 Saint Francis (PA) in a run-rule affair. The graduate students stepped up as pitcher Kiley Myers delivered a 90-pitch shutout and shortstop Miah McDonald homered twice more, increasing her total to four in the tournament.
“What a tremendous win. For the program, for Marist University, for the MAAC. I cannot stress that enough,” said Marist head coach Ausanio. “We work so hard. When you think about what we had to do and what we had to accomplish. The way the kids just responded, the way they got after it every single day, no complaints. I couldn’t be more proud as a coach.”
“It’s incredible that [Myers and McDonald] got to showcase [their talent] on a national level. We can play softball in the MAAC,” said Ausanio.
McDonald and junior center fielder Peyton Pusey, the top of Marist’s (48-8-1, 1-1 Regional) lineup, continued to stay hot against the Red Flash. McDonald recorded two RBIs and Pusey hit 2-4, scoring twice.
Pusey’s day started with a leadoff double after going 3-4 the day prior. Pleasants drove in a MAAC single-season record 71st RBI with a ground ball through the right side, scoring Pusey from second. Marist took the 1-0 first-inning lead and rolled from there. Pleasants later added a dagger to her four-RBI day.
“[Pusey’s] our catalyst. When she gets on, she creates havoc, she puts pressure on defenses,” said Ausanio. “You have Miah, Haley [Ahr] and Maddie, the three-headed monster behind her. That’s why she leads the nation and runs for it, because, you know, you have pick your poison there after.”
In the circle, Myers allowed one baserunner through three innings as her fellow graduate student and the “three-headed monster’ added run support.
A day after hitting a 254-foot blast, McDonald one-upped herself, going 271 feet to straight away center field. The shortstop’s 26th home run added a run to Marist’s lead.
The Red Flash found life with runners on first and third in the fourth inning. Senior third baseman Ronni Howard snared freshman right fielder Morgan Pasternak’s two-out grounder on a bounce, keeping St. Francis off the board.
McDonald returned to the plate with runners on second and third after senior outfielder Kaitlyn Husic walked and Pusey bunted safely. Pusey laid down a perfect bunt and forced a throwing error by sophomore third baseman Aliya Garroway to advance runners into scoring position.
The error left first base open with two outs, and St. Francis head coach Beth Krysiak opted to intentionally walk McDonald. Redshirt junior first baseman Haley Ahr walked for a third Red Foxes run, leaving the bases juiced for Pleasants.
In Marist’s loss to No. 2 Liberty, they were tormented by two-out hits. Pleasants flipped the script, clearing the bases with a double down the third-base line for her fourth RBI. The Red Foxes entered the fifth with a 6-0 lead.
Howard added to the lead with a double to right center, scoring junior catcher Isabella Manory after she singled. With a 7-0 deficit, the Red Flash made their last effort, loading the bases in the sixth. Myers shut down the threat with an inning-ending strikeout, her fourth of the game. She set a program single-season record with her 23rd win.
Poetically, McDonald ended the game with another center field homer to walk off the run-rule victory. After Marist’s first-ever NCAA tournament win, they face the No. 1 Texas A&M Aggies at 6:45 CDT, 7:45 EST on ESPN2.
“I am so looking forward to the Texas A&M fans being here tonight and to be a part of this. This will be so incredible for our kids to be part of this,” said Ausanio. “We’re playing with house money right now.”
Edited by Marley Pope
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore
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