May 16, 2010
Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist baseball team defeated Canisius 12-3 on Sunday in the finale of a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series, as the Red Foxes took two out of three. Despite being outhit 12-8, the Red Foxes drew 11 walks and were hit by four pitches as they handed the Golden Griffins their first MAAC series loss of the season.
Red-shirt sophomore left-hander Richard Cary (Binghamton, N.Y.) closed out the game with 1.2 hitless and scoreless innings.
After spotting Canisius a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Red Foxes grabbed the lead for good with two runs in their half of the inning. Junior left fielder Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) started a two-out rally with a single, and was forced home with the tying run when junior right fielder Michael Gallic (Tolland, Conn.) was hit by a pitch for the 22nd time this season. Senior first baseman Ryan Gauck (Clifton Park, N.Y.) then drew a bases-loaded walk to force home sophomore center fielder Jon Schwind (Hilton, N.Y.), who had singled, to put Marist up 2-1.
The Red Foxes then erupted for six runs in the second on just three hits. Pacione's sacrifice fly brought in senior second baseman John Prano (Oviedo, Fla.), who had reached on a hit by pitch. Two batters later, red-shirt junior catcher Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) hit a two-run single up the middle to score senior shortstop Richard Curylo (Staten Island, N.Y.) and freshman first baseman Mike Orefice (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.). After Gallic laced a double to the gap in left-center and Gauck drew a walk to load the bases, freshman third baseman Zach Shank (Lititz, Pa.) cleared them with a double to put Marist up 8-1.
The Red Foxes then added three more runs in the fifth. With one out, Prano, Curylo and Orefice drew consecutive one-out walks. Pacione then drew another to force home Prano and give the Red Foxes a 9-1 advantage. A sacrifice fly by Schwind brought home Curylo, and Nugent's single to left-center plated Orefice as Marist took an 11-1 lead.
Marist added its final run in the sixth. With one out, Shank walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout by Prano.
Nugent finished by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Curylo, Orefice and Prano scored two runs apiece.
For Canisius, first baseman Brian Burton went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Right fielder Shayne Willson and shortstop Sean Jamieson each went 2-for-4. Golden Griffins' starter Chris Cox (4-3) went the first two innings and took the loss.
Canisius, which had clinched the MAAC regular-season title a day earlier, is now 35-18 overall and 17-4 in conference play. Marist is 30-20 overall and 13-8 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes are tied with Manhattan for second place in the conference, and just one game separates the teams from second through sixth place. The top four teams earn a berth in the 2010 MAAC Championships, which will be held at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y., from May 26-29.
Marist will close out the regular season with a three-game conference series at Fairfield. The teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday and a single game on Friday. Play both days begins at noon. The Red Foxes will clinch a berth in the conference tournament with two victories, and they currently control their own destiny for the number two seed.
Prior to Sunday's game, the program held its annual Senior Day ceremony, and honored the five members of the Class of 2010 - Cary, Curylo, Gauck, Prano and senior right-hander B.J. Martin (Manalapan, N.J.)
