April 29, 2006
Final Stats
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Strong pitching and fiery bats pushed the Marist College Red Foxes (28-7, 10-2) over Siena softball (14-31, 4-6) in MAAC doubleheader action on Saturday. Marist took an early lead and after a slew of Siena errors, ended the game in the fifth inning with a final score of 9-0. The Saints only run of the day came in game two in the bottom of the fourth inning, but their opponents pulled away with a final score of 6-1.
The bats were in full swing as Marist combined for 23 hits, nine of which came in the first game. The Red Foxes started the top of the first inning with five runs off three hits. Following a Chrystine McHugh run off the bat of Jessica Green, singles by Melissa Giordano and Jasmery Polanco loaded the bases for Annie Castellano, who stepped to the plate and launched a grand slam to put Marist ahead 5-0.
In the second inning, a pair of singles from Laurissa Riley and McHugh, respectively, put runners in scoring position with no outs. Giordano grounded out to first base, bringing up Green, who reached first base on another Siena error. McHugh scored off the error and after an RBI groundout, the Marist Red Foxes were ahead 8-0. A Green SAC-fly RBI accounted as the Red Foxes' final run in the fourth inning.
Marist's starting pitcher Megan Rigos took control on the mound, tossing a no-hitter. Rigos recorded seven strikeouts and only allowed the Saints to reach first base on a walk and a hit batter.
Game two started much like the first. Starting pitcher Jamie Piela struck out McHugh to start the inning, but soon after, gave up three hits and two runs. Siena's first hit of the day came in the second inning with a single up the middle courtesy of Piela. She would be left on base, once again squandering the Saints' chance of cutting the deficit.
Marist struck again in the fourth inning with two runs off four hits, making the score 4-0.
In the home-half of the fourth, the Saints answered with a pair of singles from junior Kelly Boyle and Jennifer Granato, who would score off a throwing error by the second basemen.
After a quiet two innings, Marist scored their final two runs, completing their sweep of Siena.
Following the loss, Jamie Walker, Christa Fasano, Alyson DeMarino and Tara Campbell were honored in a stirring, yet somber post-game ceremony as part of Senior Day. As the quartet touched home plate on their final lap around the bases, they realized that their memories of the past four years and the relationships they made while at Siena would resonate for years to come.
Siena softball travels to Rider University on Sunday for a scheduled conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.
