March 30, 2002

LAWRENCEVILLE-The Marist College baseball team split a doubleheader with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conferenc foe Rider this afternoon. After dropping the first game, 7-2, Marist rebounded for a 10-4 victory in the nightcap.

In the second game, Marist took a 7-4 lead by scoring three runs in the fifth inning without a hit, on four walks (two intentional), two errors and a sacrifice fly. Anthony Bocchino, who went 3-7 with three RBI and three runs scored, started the scoring in the first inning, as he hit a two-run home run to rightfield. Marist scored three runs on the first inning, but gave them back, as Rider scored four times in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-3 lead.

The Red Foxes tied the contest in the third inning, on a Keith Brachold home run, setting up the go ahead runs in th fifth. Marist added three insurance runs in the seventh-inning, highlighted by a Steve O'Sullivan triple and an RBI single from Marist all-time hits king, Bocchino.

In the opener Rider broke open a 1-0 game with four runs in the third inning on five hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles by senior Rich Brooks and Eric D'Alessandro, and a solo home run by Erinn Pesaresi Rider added two runs in the eighth inning on a triple by junior Casey Long. The Red Foxes were held scoreless over the first six innings, before Mike Sidoti was driven in by a John McGorty double. Marist added a run in the ninth when Bocchino scored on a McGorty single.

Sophomore Chris Homer earned his fifth save of the season, throwing two scoreless innings, striking out one, and not allowing a hit or walk. Chuck Bechtel took the loss in the opener, gibing up five runs on eight hits in three innings. Ryan Kondratowicz threw five innings of relief, striking out six, and allowing two runs on six hits.

The Red Foxes, who improve to 9-9 overall and 3-2 in MAAC play, will finish the three game set with Rider, 9-8 overall, 4-1 in the MAAC, on Monday at 12:00 noon.