May 3, 2003
Box Score
Poughkeepsie, NY-The Marist College baseball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) double-header with LeMoyne, falling 14-8 in the opener, and then handing the Dolphins their first conference loss, 7-2 in the nightcap. The Red Foxes are now 27-14-1 overall and 15-5 in conference play, while the Dolphins fall to 25-12 overall and 17-1 in conference action.
Chuck Bechtel (Royersford, PA) was dominate in the second game, tossing a complete game three hitter, giving up two runs, only one earned. Bechtel struck out five and walked one as he improved his season record to 7-2.
He got all the offense he would need in the first inning as the Red Foxes sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits, one error and two walks. LeMoyne used two pitchers to get out of the inning, with the starter Mike Lewis (3-2) giving up four earned runs in 0.2 innings of work. Keith Brachold (Attleboro, MA) started the inning with a walk, and would single in his second at bat, to drive in the sixth run, after having scored on a two RBI double from John McGorty (West Sayville, NY).
Chris Tracz (North Branford, CT) took the loss in the opener, falling to 6-2, as he gave up nine runs, all earned, in 4.2 innings of work. The junior allowed 12 hits and walked three, while striking out one.
LeMoyne took a 3-0 lead after 1.5 innings, which Marist erased with a three run second inning. The Red Foxes then scored two in the bottom of the fourth to lead 5-3. The Dolphins retook the lead in the fifth on a three run homer from Tony Woods, and extended the lead to 9-5 on a two RBI triple from Anthony Aquilino. LeMoyne would add three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth, taking a 14-6 lead. The Red Foxes attempted to mount a rally, with the first three batters reaching in the last at-bat, but were retired after two runs crossed the plate.
Brachold finished the afternoon 3-7 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Mike Sidoti (Staten Island, NY) was 5-9 with a run and an RBI. Matt Griffiths (Los Altos, CA), in his first action since March 27th, when he sprained his ankle, had three RBI in the first game of the double-header, and reached base twice on the afternoon.
The top two teams in the MAAC will play the rubber game of the series at noon, tomorrow, Sunday, May 4th. Prior to the game, the Red Foxes will honor the senior class in a short ceremony.
