On senior day, Marist softball completed the sweep of the Siena Saints with an 11-3 win in five innings, finishing the MAAC regular season 24-3 and on a 14-game winning streak.
“I think we really sent a message to the rest of the conference,” said head coach Joe Ausanio. “We played some good softball down the stretch and to put three losses on a very good Siena team is huge.”
Graduate student infielder Haley Ahr’s three-run home run in the first inning set the tone, and her RBI single in the fifth inning ended the game and vaulted her into a tie with Miah McDonald for the Marist career RBI record (200).
“I’m shocked,” Ahr said in regard to tying her former teammate’s record. “Miah’s an insane player, so it’s crazy to be up there. To do it on senior day, it just meant everything.”
Freshman utility Livia Wiltsie’s grand slam in the second inning served as the dagger; her 10th home run of the season ballooned the Red Fox lead to nine. Wiltsie slashed .316/.352/.579 in her freshman campaign with 10 home runs and 39 RBI’s, placing her in the mix for MAAC Rookie of the Year.
Before the game, the program honored four players with zero eligibility remaining: Ahr, senior outfielder Peyton Pusey, senior catcher Isabella Manory and graduate student pitcher Ava Metzger. Over the last four seasons, Pusey, Ahr and Manory made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament, captured three MAAC regular-season championships and won a total of 147 games. Metzger transferred to Marist prior to the start of this season; she started in game one in nine of Marist’s MAAC series this season. Metzger posted a 2.86 ERA in 90.2 innings pitched.
“It’s been such a blessing for them to welcome me with open arms,” said Metzger. “To be able to contribute in that [first] inning was special.”
With a win clinching Siena a spot in the MAAC Championships, head coach Casey Bump trotted junior pitcher/outfielder Gracie Goewey out to the circle to make her second start of the weekend. Despite the loss, Siena is expected to sneak into the playoffs as the sixth and final seed.
Goewey did not record an out in the second inning; she surrendered four runs in just one inning of work after allowing five runs in six innings in game one of Friday’s doubleheader.
“I feel like we had really good approaches on [Goewey] yesterday, but seeing her yesterday helped us form our approach today,” said Manory.
After a crisp one-two-three first inning from Metzger, the Red Foxes blitzed junior pitcher/outfielder Gracie Goewey for three runs in the bottom half. The damage was done courtesy of the seniors; Pusey laid down a bunt single, Manory worked a walk and Ahr annihilated a first-pitch fastball well over the fence in left field.
“I started tearing up [when I] was rounding third base,” Ahr said. “Peyton set the tone, Bella kept it going, and I told myself today I was just going to have fun, and we definitely were having fun in that first inning.”
Freshman first baseman/outfielder Lily Roumelis led off the second with a double down the right field line, chasing Goewey from the contest. Sophomore pitcher Violet Marta relieved Goewey; Marta only yielded three earned runs in game two of Friday’s doubleheader.
Marta’s effectiveness on Friday proved to be moot, as the Red Foxes batted around in the frame and tagged the sophomore for five runs. On Marta’s first pitch, junior pitcher/outfielder Anna Sidlowski smacked an RBI double off the wall in right-center field, and with two outs, Marist’s two-out prowess was on full display.
Manory lined an RBI single to center to increase the lead to five, and freshman utility Livia Wiltsie delivered the dagger. The freshman connected on a grand slam to bury the Saints, ballooning the Marist lead to nine.
Despite trailing by nine, the Saints made Metzger work in the top of the fourth inning. The Saints tacked on three runs courtesy of five consecutive hits, including a solo home run from Goewey.
The Red Foxes ended the game the way it started: RBI’s from Ahr. With a run already in, Ahr laced an RBI single over the head of sophomore outfielder Ashlee Sweet to plate the game-ending run. Ahr tallied four RBIs in the contest.
Marist will now turn its attention to the MAAC Championships, which begin Tuesday at Gartland Field. Riding a 14-game winning streak, the Red Foxes are entering the tournament playing their best softball of the season at the perfect time.
“I don’t think anyone realized that we were on a good winning streak because we are just playing ball,” Pusey said. “We’re not going to change anything and we’re not going to make the moment bigger than it is. We’re just going to play softball and we’re going to win.”
Marist will play the winner of Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
Edited by Max Rosen
Photo by Jaylen Rizzo
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