March 13, 2009

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. - Delaware's Ryan Reed hit a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Blue Hens to a 10-8 victory over the Marist baseball team on Friday. The Red Foxes, who had broken a six-all tie with two runs in the top of the ninth, fell to 6-4 on the season.

Junior first baseman Ryan Gauck (Clifton Park, N.Y.) had three of the Red Foxes' seven hits, adding two runs scored and an RBI. Senior left fielder Brian McDonough (Hanover, Mass.) drove in three runs, and had two sacrifice flies.

The Red Foxes got on the scoreboard first by scoring five runs in the third. An infield single by Gauck scored freshman shortstop Jon Schwind (Hilton, N.Y.) with the Red Foxes' first run. A two-run double by red-shirt sophomore catcher Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) made it 3-0. Marist added two more runs in the inning on a sacrifice fly by McDonough and an RBI single by freshman designated hitter George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.).

Delaware took the lead by scoring six times in its half of the fourth on a two-run homer by Bill Merkler and a grand slam by Carlos Alonso. The Red Foxes tied the game in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk by McDonough, and took a 7-6 lead in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by McDonough. Marist added another run on an error to take an 8-6 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

Senior right-hander Jacob Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) took the loss for Marist, falling to 0-1. Senior left-hander Josh Rickards (Glenolden, Pa.) started and worked the first four innings. Rickards was relieved by freshman righty Eric Alessio (Nyack, N.Y.) followed and tossed 1.2 perfect innings.

Marist and Delaware will play the second game in their three-game series tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. Junior right-hander B.J. Martin (Manalapan, N.J.), who is 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA, is the Red Foxes' scheduled starter.