Softball Falls in Heartbreaker at Marist on Tuesday

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Saint Peter's University softball team traveled north to Poughkeepsie on Tuesday for its second doubleheader of the season against Marist. Both contests were decided by a two-point margin, as Marist swept the day with wins by 8-6 and 6-4. The Peacocks were leading late in both games, including a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning of Game 2, but were unable to secure the wins over the Red Foxes.
 
Game 1 Notes:

• Saint Peter's tallied three runs before the end of the first inning, as junior Olyvia Smith and freshman Maiah Skakal reached home as a result of smart baserunning and crucial errors from the Marist defense.
• Sophomore Brandi Feeney was able to reach third base in the same inning and was brought home on an RBI from classmate Sophie Wilson.
• The Red Foxes wasted little time during their time at the plate, quickly bringing the score back to a one-run differential as the score read 3-2.
• Marist claimed its first lead of the day in the bottom of the third frame, posting three more runs and going up 5-3 on the Peacocks.
• The score remained unchanged until the top of the fifth inning, when Feeney, Wilson, and classmate Cara McNulty recorded three consecutive RBI's, recapturing a 6-5 lead in the process.
• Another three-run inning from the hosts in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the final blow as Marist took the 8-6 victory.

Game 2 Notes:

• Marist had the early advantage in the day's second matchup, going up 2-0 on Saint Peter's after two innings.
• Feeney and Wilson didn't miss a beat between the two games on Tuesday, recording back-to-back RBI's again in the top of the fourth, leveling the score at 2-2.
• Junior Katie Sciglimpaglia came up big for the team in the top of the fifth inning, sending a two-run blast over the center field fence, bringing in freshman Madison Simone in the process and giving Saint Peter's a 4-2 edge.
• A solo home run from Marist's Caroline Baratta chipped away at the Peacocks' lead in the bottom of the sixth, but the blue and white entered the last inning with a 4-3 lead.
• After Saint Peter's defense secured one out in the bottom of the seventh, the hosts were able to advance runners to first and second.
• The rally came to fruition during the next at-bat, as Marist's Kaley Coltrain hit a three-run home run to wrap up the game with a final score of 6-4.

Inside the Numbers:

• Feeney paced the team with four RBI's on the day while Wilson (3) and Sciglimpaglia (2) also recorded multiple RBI's through both games on Tuesday.
• Additionally, Feeney, Sciglimpaglia, and Smith each finished the day with three hits.
• Simone finished Game 1 with the first double of her career, while the rookie finished Game 2 with her first stolen base of her career as well.
• In the day's second contest, sophomore pitcher Kristen Brennan allowed just three runs while notching two strikeouts. The Staten Island native also forced 11 flyouts and four groundouts 

Coach's Quotes - Chris Stelma:

• "These young ladies have had a lot thrown at them over the last 14 months. They have battled every step of the way and it is undeniable how much they have grown as a team. I'm very happy with both games today and love coaching this group of young ladies!"

Up Next:

• The Peacocks will travel to hOURglass rival Rider on Wednesday, May 5 to finish out the regular season with a doubleheader against the Broncs in Lawrenceville. The games are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.