Red Foxes split a doubleheader at Rider

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Marist softball team clinched a berth in the 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference softball championship on Sunday.
 
The Red Foxes split a doubleheader at Rider. They won the first game by a score of 13-4 in six innings. Midway through its second game, Marist clinched a berth by virtue of Fairfield’s second victory of the day over Canisius. Rider then prevailed in game two, 7-6.
 
Game One – Marist 13, Rider 4 (6 innings)
Marist scored four runs in its first at-bat. Ali Milam’s two-run homer got the Red Foxes on the scoreboard. Lauren Beal then drove in Kourtney Paul with a single, and Jade Sinskul’s bases-loaded walk forced home Brandi Coon.

Milam’s opposite field homer gave Marist a 5-0 lead in the second.

Rider scored three runs in the bottom of the second, which included a two-run single by Sam Ward.

Caroline Baratta’s two-out single in the third brought in Miranda Perez, and made Marist’s lead 6-3.

Milam drew a leadoff walk to start the fourth, and Coon’s homer two batters later gave Marist and 8-3 advantage.

Keegan Zavodnik led off the bottom of the fourth with a homer for Rider.

Milam’s RBI single gave Marist a 9-4 lead in the fifth.

The Red Foxes then put the game with four runs in the fourth. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Casey Page brought home Coon. Brittany Colombo was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, which forced home a run. Milam then closed out the scoring with a two-run single.

Game Two – Rider 7, Marist 6

Paul’s RBI fielder’s choice brought home Colombo with the game’s run in the top of the first.

Rider took the lead in the bottom of the first, scoring all three of its runs with two outs. A bloop single by Elyse Cuttic home Toni Nino and tied the score. Kiera Swank followed with a two-run homer.

Marist re-claimed the lead in the top of the second. Colombo delivered a two-run single, and Coon followed with a two-run double two batters later.

Milam’s RBI single in the fourth, her seventh RBI of the day, brought home Baratta, and extended Marist’s lead to 6-3.

Rider scored a run on an error in the fifth.

The Broncs won the game with a three-run seventh. Elyse Cuttic’s RBI single with two outs tied the game, and she scored from first on Shelby Miller’s game-winning double.

Marist finished the regular season at 24-30 overall, and 9-11 in the MAAC. Rider finished its season at 17-33 overall and 8-12 in the MAAC.
 
Marist is the #6 seed in this week’s MAAC Softball Championship, which will take place at Monmouth. The Red Foxes open the championship against #3 Siena on Wednesday. Game time is yet to be announced.