March 22, 2009
Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist baseball team recorded a 9-6 victory over Iona in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at McCann Baseball Field. The win gave the Red Foxes a three-game sweep over the Gaels in the weekend series, as they improved to 9-8 overall and 3-0 in the MAAC.
Seven Red Foxes had at least two hits, led by freshman designated hitter George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.), who went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Junior left fielder Ryan Gauck (Clifton Park, N.Y.), sophomore third baseman Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.), red-shirt sophomore catcher Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) senior right fielder Brian McDonough (Hanover, Mass.) and red-shirt senior first baseman Kenny Anderson (Randolph, N.J.).
McDonough finished with three RB Is, while Pacione and Nugent had two apiece. Pacione scored three runs, while Agostini, Gauck and Nugent had two apiece.
After spotting Iona a run in the top of the first, the Red Foxes answered with four in their half of the inning. A two-run single by Pacione drove home Agostini and Gauck, and McDonough and Nugent followed with RBI singles.
With the Red Foxes holding a 5-2 lead after three innings, the Gaels scored three times in the top of the fourth - with the help of two Marist errors - to knot the score at five apiece. However, the Red Foxes scored twice in the bottom of the fourth on an infield error and a bases-loaded walk by junior second baseman John Prano (Oviedo, Fla.) to take the lead for good.
Iona scored in the fifth to close Marist's lead to 7-6, but the Red Foxes added two insurance runs in the eighth. An RBI double by Nugent drove home Pacione to make it 8-6, and McDonough followed with an RBI triple, bringing in Nugent to boost Marist's lead to 9-6.
Junior right-hander Richard Cary (Binghamton, N.Y.) earned the victory in relief of starter B.J. Martin (Manalapan, N.J.), who went for the first four innings. Cary allowed one run in 2.1 innings. Junior right-hander Eric Alessio (Nyack, N.Y.) followed with 1.2 scoreless innings, and senior right-hander Jacob Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.
Marist returns to action on Wednesday, when the Red Foxes head to Albany for a non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
