July 29, 2009

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Marist softball head coach Joe Ausanio announced Lauren Cognigni to join his staff as assistant coach on Wednesday morning. Cognigni joins the Red Foxes after she spent one season with the St. Joseph's Hawks as an assistant coach in the Atlantic-10.

"We are very pleased to bring Lauren to Marist College," Ausanio said. "She was a standout pitcher for St. Joseph's and the all-time leader in many pitching categories there. Along with her pitching prowess, she brought a year of coaching experience in all aspects of the Hawks program. This made her the perfect candidate to take our program to the next level."

Cognigni worked primarily with the outfielders and was the first base coach during her season with St. Joseph's. She also worked with the pitchers in the off-season. With the Red Foxes she will continue as the first base coach, as well as assist with all other aspects of the program.

"I'm excited to start working with a new team," Cognigni said. "I learned a lot in my first season as a coach at St. Joseph's and I am hoping to continue to build on that experience to help the growth of the Marist Softball program."

During her playing career with the Hawks, she threw the second perfect game in program history as a freshman, and also threw a pair of no hitters during her career. She leaves the program as the all-time leader in strikeouts with 534 for her career.

Marist completed the 2009 season with a record of 16-33 and 9-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.