Marist Softball Secures Doubleheader Sweep

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Marist softball team swept a home doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Red Foxes won both games by a score of 7-3, with the first game ending on a walk-off grand slam by Miah McDonald in the eighth.

With the two victories, Marist locked up a berth in the MAAC Championship, which will begin on May 8.

Game One
A Canisius error at shortstop allowed Miah McDonald, who reached on a walk, to score the day’s first run for the Red Foxes in the bottom of the first.

Christie McGee-Ross hit a two-run home run to give the Golden Griffins a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.

The Golden Griffins took advantage of a bases-loaded situation to add another run, making it 3-1 in the top of the sixth.

Ronni Howard singled to start the seventh inning. After two straight outs, Haley Ahr stepped up to the plate and came through in a big way. She launched a two-run home run to center field, tying the game at 3-3.

A single from Sam Rogers got the Red Foxes going in the bottom of the eighth. Howard and Peyton Pusey each drew a walk to load the bases. With two outs and a full count, Miah McDonald crushed a walk-off grand slam over the center field fence.

Kiley Myers went all eight innings with the victory, and she struck out a career-high 12.

Myers improved her record to 14-6.

Game Two
The Golden Griffins struck first in game two, bringing in one run in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the first, Pusey laid down a bunt to lead off with a single. McDonald followed with a walk to put two runners on base. Maddie Pleasants brought them home with a three-run home run down the left-field line, her fourth in five games.

Canisius tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the second, courtesy of a two-RBI single by Gianna Fazzolari.

McDonald launched a solo home run to left-center to give Marist a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third.

Haley Ahr hit a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fourth, increasing the Red Foxes’ lead to 6-3.

Alyssa Grupp started off the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Isabella Manory hit a single to bring her home.

Anna Sidlowski finished the game with 5.1 innings of hitless relief to earn the victory and improve her record to 13-3.

Marist improves to 33-14 overall and 15-4 in the MAAC.

Canisius drops to 18-19 on the season and 13-9 in conference play.