Marist softball continued its stretch of dominance on Wednesday, sweeping a home doubleheader against non-conference opponent Monmouth to improve to 11-1 in its last 12 games.
The Hawks, who have struggled this season, came to Poughkeepsie with momentum after sweeping Towson in a three-game series this past weekend. The Red Foxes quickly quelled that momentum—they had no problem swinging the bats in an 11-3 five-inning mercy rule win to start the day.
Three different Red Foxes hit home runs in the crushing victory. Senior outfielder Peyton Pusey and senior infielder Isabella Manory led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back home runs. Freshman designated player Livia Wiltsie joined the party, hitting a home run to give Marist a 4-2 lead at the end of the first.
The Red Foxes got out to a comfortable lead in the third after scoring three runs. With two shutout innings from graduate student right-handed pitcher Ava Metzger, Marist pulled away at the plate.
Junior outfielder Samantha Rogers got the last hit, a two-run single to end the game in five.
Metzger, who joined Marist this season after a long road to recovery after suffering a UCL injury in her freshman season and an ACL tear during junior year at fellow MAAC team Manhattan, has become a vital player in the Red Foxes ‘ pitching rotation. She allowed no hits on the day.
“She has a real confidence in all of her pitches. She has pitched some really good games for us,” said head coach Joe Ausanio. “We lost 3-1 to Arizona State. She beat South Carolina, which is a huge win for the program.”
Marist kept the momentum rolling to start the bottom end of the doubleheader. After three home runs in the first game, Marist continued its domination with Wiltsie’s second home run of the day. She sent one over the center field fence to bring home Ahr, who doubled, and Pusey.
Ahr, who had three RBI’s in the first game, tallied one more in game two as she starts to cement herself as one of the conference’s top RBI leaders with 39 this season, spread out amongst 47 games.
Manory, who stepped out from her usual spot behind the plate, moved to third base against Monmouth. Head coach Joe Ausanio has shown he is not afraid to switch things up on the defensive side for the Red Foxes, placing trust in the team’s depth around the diamond.
The first three innings were anchored by three no-hit innings from freshman left-handed pitcher Kaylie DeChicchis.
Manory showed her versatility defensively, as well as offensively. Manory launched one over the fence in the bottom of the third for a three-run homer, making the score 6-0.
“[Manory] is a great player. Last year, she played left field for us in the conference championship. She has just been catching a lot this year, so I wanted to give her a break today from not catching because we have three big games this weekend,” said Ausiano.
With a five-run lead over Monmouth, the Hawks decided to make a change at pitcher, calling in junior pitcher Olivia Lewis. Lewis entered to face the bottom of the lineup with freshman first baseman Lily Roumelis leading off. She slowed down the bats of the Red Foxes with an easy one, two, three inning.
The Hawks responded at the plate to start the fifth with a two-run home run launched just over the head of Pusey to bring the score within three.
In the top of the fourth, the Red Foxes made a call to the bullpen, having junior pitcher Anna Sidlowski start the inning. Sidlowski, who has seen her ERA drop this season, allowed three hits and two earned runs in two innings before being replaced by redshirt sophomore pitcher Stella Blanchard.
With Blanchard on the mound, all members of the Red Foxes’ pitching rotation got some time in the doubleheader against Monmouth.
Lewis continued to slow down the Red Foxes at the plate, but the pitching change seemed to be too late as the Hawks could not take advantage of any offensive push. The Red Foxes took the final game 6-3.
In a combined 11 innings at the plate, the Red Foxes tallied 17 runs and improved their record to 11-2 at home.
“We are not letting up and we are going into the weekend the same and we are going to take care of business,” said Manory.
Marist’s offensive strength and defensive depth continue to set the Red Foxes apart from the rest of the MAAC as the team looks to close out the regular season on a high note. They return to conference play on the road against Canisius this weekend.
With reporting by Jack Tomasi
Edited by Max Rosen
Photo and Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
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