April 26, 2011
Box Score
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Marist baseball team suffered a 6-4 loss at Saint Peter's in the final game of a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series on Tuesday at Jaroschak Field. Leading by two runs after six innings, the Red Foxes gave up two runs apiece in the seventh and eighth innings.
Red-shirt senior designated hitter Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in to lead the Red Foxes offensively. Junior third baseman Jon Schwind (Hilton, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 with a run scored, and senior catcher Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Marist outhit Saint Peter's, 12-9
The Red Foxes jumped out to an early lead as Nugent's two-run single in the third brought home Schwind and Pacione, both of whom had reached with singles of their own. Marist expanded its lead to 3-0 in the fourth when sophomore first baseman Mike Orefice (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) reached on a fielder's choice to bring home freshman right fielder Pat Welsh (Millersville, Pa.), who had led off the inning with a single.
After Saint Peter's rallied for two runs in its half of the fourth, Marist ran the lead back to 4-2 with a run in the sixth. Freshman second baseman Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.) led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, reached third on another wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Welsh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Saint Peter's tied the game on a two-run single by center fielder Preston Aldridge. The Peacocks took the lead for good in the eighth when left fielder Matt Speckmann singled and scored on a three-base error by Marist center fielder Michael Gallic (Tolland, Conn.), which also brought home pinch-runner Mike LaCava from second.
Marist sophomore right-hander Sean McKeown (Hillsborough, N.J.) started for the Red Foxes and went the first 6.1 innings, allowing six hits, four runs (three unearned) and one walk while striking out three. Kevin Croucher, who finished the game with 1.2 scoreless innings, earned the win to improve to 4-2.
Marist committed five errors in the game, as opposed to zero for Saint Peter's.
Marist is now 25-13 overall and 6-9 in MAAC play; Saint Peter's is 12-23 overall and 3-8 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes will return to action on Wednesday, when they face Army in the Hudson Valley Baseball Classic at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill. First pitch is set for 7:09 p.m., and tickets are free.
