March 11, 2011
Box Score
DOVER, Del. - The Marist baseball team defeated Delaware State 10-3 Friday afternoon in the first game of a three-game set. Senior center fielder Michael Gallic (Tolland, Conn.) went 3-for-5, including his first home run of the season along with four RBIs. Sophomore lefty Dan Zlotnick (Katonah, N.Y.) took a no-hitter into the seventh and struck out 10 in 7 1/3 innings of work for the Red Foxes.
Junior third baseman Jon Schwind (Hilton, N.Y.) went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs and crushed his second home run of the season, while sophomore first baseman Mike Orefice (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) hit a two-run double. Junior designated hitter Eric Helmrich (Yonkers, N.Y.) and freshman second baseman Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.) each had two hits and a run scored for the Red Foxes.
After five scoreless innings, the Marist bats came to life in what turned into a seven-run sixth inning. The inning began with a leadoff walk to Orefice, followed by a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore shortstop Zack Shank (Lititz, Pa.). Senior left fielder Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, and then Pacione and Orefice advanced to second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch. With first base open, Schwind walked. Gallic then ripped a bases-clearing double down the left field line to open the scoring and give Marist a 3-0 lead. With two outs in the inning following a groundout, Marist tacked on four more runs on four straight hits by freshman right fielder Pat Welsh (Millersville, Pa.), Helmrich, McQuail and Orefice.
Marist added one run in each of the final three innings on Gallic's solo shot in the seventh, an RBI single by Shank in the eighth and Schwind's solo homer in the ninth.
On the mound, Zlotnick struck out the side in the second and seventh innings, and left in the eighth inning with one on and one out. Freshman right-hander Kevin McCarthy (Malverne, N.Y.) relieved Zlotnick and pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings with two strikeouts to seal the win.
Zlotnick finished allowing three runs on five hits and two walks to win his third consecutive start. He is now 3-0 in four starts this season with a 3.38 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Ryan Haas had two hits a run-scoring single in the eighth for the Hornets.
Marist improved to 7-3; Delaware State dropped to 3-9 on the season.
The Red Foxes will play game two of the three-game set on Saturday at 1 p.m. First pitch for game three on Sunday is also set for 1 p.m.
