March 26, 2011
Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist baseball team split its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon, defeating Fairfield 7-2 in the first game before falling by a 3-2 margin in 11 innings in the second game. Both contests were held at McCann Baseball Field.
Sophomore left-hander Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) each collected three hits in the game one victory, and both finished the day with four hits apiece.
In game one, Fairfield scored one run in the top of the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Anthony Hajjar. Marist did not respond until the bottom of the second inning after red-shirt senior catcher Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) hit a one-out double. With two outs in the inning, freshman right fielder Jon Schwind (Hilton, N.Y.) singled on a high chopper back toward the pitcher's mound to score McQuail. Schwind and Orefice pulled off a double steal of second base and home to cap a four-run inning and gave the Red Foxes a 4-1 lead.
Two scoreless innings would pass until Pacione singled to lead-off the bottom of the fifth inning and senior centerfielder Michael Gallic (Tolland, Conn.) connected on a two-run home run over the wall in left-center to put Marist ahead 6-1. Fairfield responded in the top of the sixth inning with one run on a one-out fielder's choice, cutting its deficit to just four.
Gallic scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh to give Marist a 7-2 lead, while sophomore Brett Houseal (Landisville, Pa.), who took over on the mound in relief of Zlotnick in the top of the sixth, recorded the final 12 outs for Marist to earn the four-inning save.
Zlotnick went five-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits and six walks while striking out four to earn his fourth consecutive decision. In four innings of work, Houseal allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out two.
In game two of the doubleheader, Orefice led off a scoreless game in the bottom of the first inning with a triple, and scored several pitches later on a wild pitch to put Marist ahead, 1-0. The extra-base hit would be Marist's only hit until the eighth inning.
The Stags took the lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run RBI single by designated hitter Carmine DeVito. The Red Foxes tied the game at two apiece on an RBI groundout by McQuail in the bottom of the fifth.
With the game tied at two, each side shared five scoreless frames before Fairfield took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th inning on a one-out sacrifice fly by second baseman Tucker Nathans.
Marist's attempt to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning failed, despite Pacione hitting a one-out single to extend his hitting streak to 12-consecutive games.
Before being decided in extra innings, the second game of the doubleheader was a bit of a pitcher's duel. Red-shirt junior left-hander Chad Gallagher (Southboro, Mass.) threw eight strong innings, allowing eight hits, two runs and three walks while striking out three. Fairfield starter Mark Bordonaro allowed two runs on one hit and four walks in seven innings pitched, while striking out three.
Reliever Kyle Capaldo pitched four scoreless innings of relief and picked up the win for the Stags. Despite three strong innings of relief, red-shirt senior Eric Alessio (Nyack, N.Y.) took the loss for the Red Foxes.
Marist (15-4, 1-1 MAAC) will play the rubber match of the series against Fairfield (7-10, 1-1 MAAC) tomorrow at the McCann Baseball Field. Kyle Putnam (2-2, 7.02 ERA) will start for Marist against Fairfield's Scott Warwick (2-1, 6.30 ERA).First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., a change from the original start time of noon.
