Feb. 26, 2011
Box Score
WILMINGTON, N.C. - The Marist baseball team defeated West Virginia of the Big East Conference by a score of 9-8 on Saturday at the Hughes Bros. Challenge. The Red Foxes were able to overcome three four-run deficits to earn the victory.
West Virginia, the designated visiting team, scored four runs in the top of the first, aided by four Marist errors. Marist closed the gap in the bottom of the first when junior third baseman Jon Schwind (Hilton, N.Y.) belted his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to make the score 4-3.
The Mountaineers scored once in the second and twice in the third to re-claim a four-run lead at 7-3. The Red Foxes cut that deficit by one in the third when senior left fielder Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) doubled to score sophomore first baseman Mike Orefice (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), who had reached on a one-out single.
West Virginia took its third four-run lead of the game at 8-4 in its half of the fourth. But the Red Foxes bounced back in the bottom half of the inning when senior center fielder Michael Gallic (Tolland, Conn.) singled, junior designated hitter Eric Helmrich (Yonkers, N.Y.) walked and freshman second baseman Pat Welsh (Millersville, Pa.) followed with his first collegiate home run, a three-run shot which made the score 8-7.
Marist took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth when Pacione's RBI single scored sophomore right fielder Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) hit into a fielder's choice, which scored Orefice from third.
Pacione finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a run scored and a walk. Orefice reached safely four times, as he went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Gallic went 3-for-4 for his second three-hit game in as many days.
Senior left-hander Sean McKeown (Hillsborough, N.J.) earned his first win of the season with two scoreless and hitless innings of relief to go along with three strikeouts. After junior righty Jake Rifkin (West Deptford, N.J.) needed just six pitches to get three outs in the eighth, freshman right-hander Kevin McCarthy (Malverne, N.Y.) earned his first collegiate save with a scoreless ninth.
Marist outhit West Virginia 13-8. Right fielder Brady Wilson and shortstop Grant Buckner had two hits apiece for the Mountaineers, while left fielder Matt Frazer and third baseman T.J. Kuban each drove in two runs. Right-hander Marcus Broadwater, who pitched the final four innings, took the loss.
Marist will conclude play in the Hughes Bros. Challenge on Sunday, when the Red Foxes take on Miami (Ohio). First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
