POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The Cornell softball team opened Spring Break week with a pair of hard-fought losses at defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champion Marist on Monday afternoon at Gartland Field. The Big Red (6-11) got a pair of solid pitching performances, but the Red Foxes (18-11) were able to escape with 4-2 and 3-1 victories. 

Game One
Freshman Bridgette Rooney's two-run home run in the third cut a 3-0 deficit to 3-2, but Marist didn't blink from there on in and ace hurler Jessica Van Alphen came in to shut the door.

Van Alphen picked up her first save of the year, allowing just one hit over the final 2.1 innings to allow Brooke Peterson to pick up her first win of the year. Rooney was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Cora Geunes took the hard-luck loss, allowing just one earned run in 3.0 innings of work. Katie Lew gave up one hit over the final three innings, but seven total walks between the pitchers and two unearned runs after a first inning error were the difference.

Game Two
A three-run first inning home run by Gabrielle Kelliher was the only offense Marist was able to generate, but also the only it would need in a 3-1 victory. The Big Red scratched together five hits, including two by Madeline Avery, in the loss. Sarah Murray also doubled and Ivey Wagner reached base twice, posting a single and reaching base after being hit with a pitch. 

Maddie Orcutt had another strong outing in the circle, going the distance and allowing just the first inning homer. She scatted seven hits and a walk while striking out four. It wasn't enough, as Kallen Leeseberg and Megan Beiermeister combined to allow just five hits and one run.

Cornell returns to action when it visits Albany on Wednesday, April 5 at 3 p.m.