May 28, 2005

Box Score |  Photo Gallery

FISHKILL, N.Y.-The Marist baseball team (33-19) earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship with a 5-4 victory over Niagara University (25-28), in the title game of the 2005 Anaconda Sports MAAC Baseball Championship at Dutchess Stadium on Saturday. The title is Marist's fourth in the last six years and fifth since 1997. Marist shortstop Andy Kiriakedes, who batted .500 this week, was named Tournament MVP.

Marist second baseman Joe Sargent, catcher Bryan Towler, right fielder Kevin Grauer and center fielder Travis Musolf were also named to the All-Tournament Team. Third baseman Andrew MacNevin, catcher Mike Medici, designated hitter Reed Eastley and pitchers Dan Griffin and Josh Sawatsky were named to the team from Niagara. Siena outfielder Scott King was also named to the squad.

Kiriakedes' two hits led Marist, while second baseman Daniel Parsons had a pair of hits and a pair of runs to lead Niagara.

Niagara made its mark on the scoreboard first with one run in the top of the first inning as Parsons reached home after MacNevin grounded out. The Purple Eagles then took a 2-0 lead in the fifth, with Eastley crossing home plate on a groundout by left fielder Brian Clifford.

The Red Foxes fired right back, posting five runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth, to take over the lead (5-2). In the inning, Sargent, Kiriakedes, first baseman Keith Brachold, Towler and designated hitter Kevin Buck knocked in all the runs the Red Foxes would need. Niagara went on to add two more runs to its total in the eighth as Parsons scored on a sacrifice fly by MacNevin and shortstop Andrew MacDonald scored on a single by Medici to close within one (5-4), but Marist would hold strong to earn its first title since 2002.

Marist's Jonathan Smith improved to 7-1 with the win, while Robert Ryan, the MAAC Reliever of the Year, earned his ninth save of the year. Niagara's Kyle Nicoletta finished the year at 2-6 on the mound. Smith allowed two earned runs on seven hits in eight innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Nicoletta, making only his fourth start of the season for the Purple Eagles, yielded four runs on five hits with one strikeout and two walks.

The 2005 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship 64-team bracket, with first-round regional pairings and site assignments, will be revealed in a live, half-hour telecast on ESPN at 11:30 a.m. EST on Monday, May 30. The program will originate from ESPN studios in Bristol, Connecticut.