Oct. 13, 2004
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.- The Red team used a two-run homer by senior second baseman Joe Sargent (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) in the top of the sixth inning Wednesday to capture a 5-2 win over the White team in the first game of the annual Marist Fall World Series at the McCann Baseball Field. Game two begins at 2:05 p.m. on Friday.
The White squad, coached by Marist assistant coach Chris Barry, was up 2-1 through five innings of play before junior catcher Bryan Towler (Hampton, N.H.) smacked a home run to tie the affair. Sargent's blast later in the inning clinched the contest. Towler finished with a pair of hits and three runs batted in, while junior shortstop Andy Kiriakedes (Greater Barrington, Mass.) had three hits and scored two runs.
Sophomore righthander Erik Supplee (Williamsburg, Va.) started for the Red squad, pitching four innings with two earned runs. Freshman lefthander Steve Schult (Stormville, N.Y.) picked up the win after tossing a pair of scoreless innings, while sophomore righthander Bobby Hastry (Maynard, Mass.) claimed the save.
"I knew in the top of the sixth that the meat of our order was up," said Marist assistant coach Brian Anderson, who coached the Red team to victory. "Supplee kept us in it by keeping us in a close game through five. As long as we're close, I feel like the middle of our order is very productive and can erupt at any time."
"I really can't ask for much more," said Barry. "We had the lead with six outs to go. We had opportunities to expand the lead and squandered those opportunities. We are the type of club that needs to manufacture those opportunities. With the firepower they have, we need to try to expand the lead and execute and give our bullpen a chance. We're looking forward to extending the series to Saturday."
Friday's contest will feature a showdown between a pair of freshman hurlers when righthander Jeff Hansen (Woodstock, N.Y.) will take the hill for the Red, while lefty Tom Close (Devon, Pa.) will start for the White.
If necessary, Saturday's game will begin at noon.
