April 9, 2011
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist baseball team was swept in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader against visiting Rider on Saturday. The Red Foxes dropped a pair of one-run games, as they lost 4-3 in game one and 3-2 in the second game. Of the seven runs Marist permitted on the day, six were unearned.
Senior left fielder Ricky Pacione (Newburgh, N.Y.) paced the Red Foxes offensively by going 5-for-7 on the day, while junior designated hitter Eric Helmrich (Yonkers, N.Y.) went 3-for-6 with an RBI.
In game one, Marist scored first in the bottom of the third. Sophomore first baseman Michael Gallic (Tolland, Conn.) beat a throw to first base to nullify a potential inning-ending double play. In the fourth, the Red Foxes took a 2-0 lead when red-shirt senior catcher Bryce Nugent (Binghamton, N.Y.) led off with a single and came around to score on a passed ball.
However, Rider came back to score all four of its runs in the top of the fifth. Brandon Cotten was hit by a pitch to force home the Broncs' first run. With two outs, A.J. Albee's two-run single gave Rider a 3-2 lead, and Mason Heyne followed with an RBI single to put the Broncs up 4-2.
In the sixth, Nugent once again led off with a single, and scored on a sacrifice bunt by freshman right fielder Jake Berry (South Hamilton, Mass.).
Marist had runners on first and second with two outs in the eights, but Rider closer Tyler Smith came in to strike out Orefice to end the inning. After Pacione's fourth hit of the game put the tying run on first with one out in the ninth, Smith induced a 6-4-3 double play from Gallic to end the game.
Smith's four-out save preserved the victory for Rider starter Mike Thomas, who went the first 7.2 innings and improved to 4-1. Marist sophomore left-hander Brendan Chapin (South Weymouth, Mass.) held the Broncs scoreless over the final 4.1, and scattered five hits while striking out four.
In the seven-inning game two, Albee's sacrifice fly brought home Cotton to give Rider a 1-0 lead in the first. Marist tied the game in the second when sophomore shortstop Zach Shank (Lititz, Pa.) singled to lead off the innings, and scored when Berry beat the throw on a potential double-play ball.
The score remained tied at one until the sixth. Rider's Nick Crescenzo led off with a bunt single, and after he was sacrificed to second by Albee, he scored on a single by Heyne. But Marist tied the score in the bottom half of the inning. Gallic led off with a single, stole second with two outs, and then scored on an RBI double by Helmrich.
In the top of the seventh, Rider's Adam Wayman led off by reaching on an error by Shank. After John Ralston sacrificed Wayman to second, Cotten's RBI single put Rider up 3-2. Smith then came in from the bullpen to retire the side on eight pitches for his second save of the day and eighth of the season.
Nate Eppley (4-3) earned the win for Rider. He went the first six innings, and allowed five hits, three walks and two runs (one earned) while striking out three. Marist red-shirt junior lefty Chad Gallagher (Southboro, Mass.) needed just 77 pitches to toss a complete game, but took the loss to fall to 5-1. He allowed six hits and one walk while striking out one. Just one of the three runs Gallagher allowed was earned, and he recorded 17 ground-ball outs.
Marist fell to 21-8 overall and 4-4 in the MAAC; Rider is now 18-10 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
Marist and Rider will complete their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is set for noon at McCann Baseball Field.
