May 30, 2009

Box Score

Marist-Ohio State Photos

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Marist baseball team had its 2009 season come to an end on Saturday with a 6-4 loss to Ohio State in NCAA Regional Play. The Red Foxes, who advanced to regional play by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament, ended their season at 31-28.

The Red Foxes got on the scoreboard first by scoring two runs in the second. With one out, freshman third baseman George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) singled, and then advanced to third on a double by senior catcher Andrew Stanton (Delmar, N.Y.). Senior right fielder Kyle Meyer (East Greensbush, N.Y.) then singled to center, scoring both Agostini and Stanton to give the Red Foxes a 2-0 lead.

Ohio State then scored four times in the third, with the big blow in the inning being a bases-clearing double by designated hitter Ryan Dew. The Red Foxes chipped away at the 4-2 deficit, scoring once in the fourth when junior first baseman Ryan Gauck (Clifton Park, N.Y.) led off with a single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Stanton. A solo home run by Agostini tied the game at four apiece in the sixth.

In the Ohio State sixth, right fielder Michael Arp led off the inning with double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Streng to give the Buckeyes a lead they would not relinquish. Ohio State added an insurance run in the eighth to take a 6-4 lead.

Drew Rucinski (11-2) pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory. Jake Hale pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to earn his 17th save of the season. For Marist, junior right-hander B.J. Martin (Manalapan, N.J.) started and went 5.2 innings. Martin picked up the loss, finishing his season at 5-6.

Agostini and Stanton finished with two hits apiece, and sophomore second baseman Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) had his second consecutive three-hit game in the tournament, going 3-for-4. Pacione batted .667 (6-for-9) in Marist's two regional games.

This year marked the Red Foxes' sixth NCAA Regional appearance. Marist is now 3-12 all-time in regional competition.