May 4, 2002
Box Score
Syracuse, NY -- The Marist College baseball team split a key double-header with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe LeMoyne, this afternoon, on Dick Rockwell Field in Syracuse, NY. Marist remains a game behind the first place Dolphins with a 16-4 record in MAAC play. The Red Foxes are 30-10 overall, while LeMoyne is 25-12 overall and 17-3 in MAAC play.
Sophomore Chris Tracz pitched the Red Foxes to the game one victory, as he tossed a complete game, nine hitter, leading Marist to the 5-3 win. Tracz struck out eight Dolphins in the win, shutting hot the host over the final three innings of play, and walked no one. Tracz did not allow a runner in scoring position in the final 3.2 innings of play, improving to 8-2 on the year with the win.
Marist scored the first two runs of the game, as Steve O'Sullivan led off the contest with a solo homerun to right field. Tim Allen reached on a one out error in the second, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from John McGorty. After Jimmy Willis earned a walk, Matt Griffiths gave the Red Foxes a 2-0 lead with a single to right field. LeMoyne answered with a run in the third inning, on three hits, but Allen led off the fourth-inning with a solo homerun to right center field to put Marist up 3-1. LeMoyne closed to 3-2 with a solo homer leading off the bottom of the fourth inning.
Marist scored what would be he game-winning run in the top of the fifth inning, as O'Sullivan reached on an error to leadoff the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Anthony Bocchino was intentionally walked, he and O'Sullivan pulled off the double steal, which allowed O'Sullivan to score on a wild pitch. The Dolphins scored a run in the sixth on a homerun, and Marist added a run in the eighth, as Bocchino walked to lead off the inning and then scored on a series of errors on a ball hit by Mike Sidoti to the shortstop.
In the second game LeMoyne scored a run in each the first, second and sixth innings, all solo shots, to account for three of the four hits which Kevin Ool allowed, but it would be enough for a 3-1 victory. Ool tossed six-inning, striking out seven and walking one as he fell to 7-3 on the year. Ool has now struck out 211 batters during his career, three from tying the Red Foxes all-time record of 214 strikeouts.
Marist did not have a hit until a single from O'Sullivan in the third inning. He advanced to third on a single by Joey Salazar and scored the lone run of the game on a fielders choice from Bocchino to second. Bocchino would steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch but would be stranded there. The Red Foxes would manage just one hit the remainder of the way, a single in the sixth, and would only have three base runners the remainder of the game.
In the sixth inning, trailing 2-1 Bocchino singled through the right side with one out and stole second. Keith Brachold reached on an error advancing Bocchino to third. Brachold would move up to second on a wild pitch, but he and Bocchino would be stranded there, ending the Red Foxes best threat of the afternoon.
The two teams will meet for the third and deciding game of the series on Sunday, May 5th, in a 12:00 noon contest.
