May 28, 2004
Box Score
Fishkill, NY-The Marist College baseball team was eliminated from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament falling to two-seeded Niagara University 7-3 this afternoon at Dutchess County Stadium in Fishkill, NY. The Red Foxes, the four seed, finish the 2004 season at 25-30 overall 17-10.
The Red Foxes came out swinging, threatening in the bottom of the first, as Bryan Towler doubled to left field to put runners on second and third with one out and the four and five hitters due up to bat. After Kevin Buck struck out, Justin Lepore walked to load the bases. The rally fell short as catcher Jimmy Board grounded to short to end the inning.
Niagara (27-26) got on the board first in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Andrew MacNevin scored the first run of the day on a single by Greg Lehman. With two outs, Vince Ircandia singled up the middle to score Brian Clifford.
Marist plated its first run on a LePore double to center which scored Kevin Buck. After Board got plunked by Niagara's Josh Sawatzsky, Tyler Brock beat out a bunt to load the bases with no outs. One batter later Andy Kiriakedes singled to left scoring Board to tie the game 2-2. Freshman Travis Musolf gave the Red Foxes a 3-2 lead grounding into a fielder's choice to score Brock.
The Red Foxes threatened again in the bottom of the sixth as Board got hit by a pitch to start the inning. Brock grounded into a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Kevin Grauer. After Kiriakedes was hit by a pitch, Musolf walked to load the bases. Marist could not push any runs across the plate as Brachold went down swinging to end the inning.
The Purple Eagles regained the lead with a two-out rally in the top of the seventh. After Ircandia singled to start the inning, pitcher George Heath made quick work of the next two batters. A misplayed pop-up by Buck allowed Ircandia to score, tying the game and sparking the Niagara run. Mike Alati followed with a triple to center scoring Solini, and came around to score on a McNevin single to second base to give the Purple Eagles a 5-3 lead.
Niagara added two more runs in the top of the eighth off of reliever Peter Fuller to give them a 7-3 lead.
Towler went 3-for-5 on the day, while Brock went 2-for-4 with a run scored. For the Purple Eagles, Ircandia went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Heath (7-7) went six and two thirds inning giving up five earned runs on 11 hits, while walking two and striking out three for the loss. Sawatzsky (6-5) went seven innings giving up three runs on six hits while walking four and striking out six batters.
