March 7, 2009

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. - Sophomore third baseman Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) belted a grand slam in the eighth inning of a game scheduled for seven innings, lifting the Marist baseball team to a 9-5 victory over Norfolk State in the second game of a doubleheader on a Saturday. The Red Foxes had posted a 14-5 victory in the first game.

Marist had to rebound from a four-run deficit, as Norfolk State got on the scoreboard first with four runs in the second. However, the Marist bullpen was able to keep the team in the game, as sophomore right-hander Kyle Putnam (New Windsor, N.Y.) allowed just one run in 4.2 innings of work, and senior right-hander Jacob Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) allowed just one hit while striking out two in the final 1.2 innings to earn the victory.

The Red Foxes tied the score by putting up four runs in the top of the fourth. Junior second baseman John Prano (Oviedo, Fla.) got Marist on the scoreboard with a two-run single. After another run scored on an error, Pacione's RBI single tied score at four apiece.

Norfolk State made it 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth, but the Red Foxes tied it in the top of fifth. Red-shirt sophomore catcher Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) led off the inning with a double, and came around to score on an RBI single by center fielder Michael Gallic (Tolland, Conn.).

With the win, Marist improved to 6-2. The Red Foxes can get their first series sweep of the season on Sunday, when they face Norfolk State in the finale of the three-game series at 1 p.m. Junior right-hander B.J. Martin (Manalapan, N.J.) is Marist's scheduled starter.