CONWAY, S.C. - In a game that took four hours and 23 minutes, the Marist baseball team defeated host Coastal Carolina 5-4 in 14 innings in the Chanticleer Classic on Saturday. Sophomore designated hitter Jake Berry (South Hamilton, Mass.) delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit, a two-out single in the top of the 14th which brought home red-shirt sophomore center fielder Mark Stuckey (Marietta, Pa.).
Junior first baseman Mike Orefice (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) went 3-for-6 with a run scored. Junior shortstop Zach Shank (Lititz, Pa.) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, and sophomore third baseman Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two successful sacrifices.
Coastal Carolina took the early lead with single runs in the first and third, but Marist fought back with three runs in its half of the fourth. Berry, who had reached on an error, scored on another error following a bunt by Shank. A successful sacrifice by McQuail plated Shank to tie the game. Sophomore right fielder Pat Welsh (Millersville, Pa.) then doubled to bring home Orefice, who had reached on a bunt single.
The Red Foxes used a two-out rally to score another run in the fifth. Shank walked, and advanced to second on a single by Orefice. McQuail's single then brought home Shank to make the score 4-2.
Coastal Carolina scored once in the seventh, and then tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.
After a scoreless 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th, the Red Foxes broke the tie in the top of the 14th. Stuckey singled to lead off the inning, and then reached second on a wild pitch. Berry then singled up the middle to bring him home.
Freshman right-hander Brandon Dolan (Franklin Park, N.J.) earned his first collegiate victory by not allowing a hit or run in the 13th and 14th. Junior right-hander Chris Bielak (Sayreville, N.J.) started and went the first six innings, allowing just five hits, two walks and two runs while striking out four. Freshman left-hander Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) allowed one run over the next 1.2 innings. Senior right-hander Jake Rifkin (West Deptford, N.J.) permitted the tying run in the ninth, but stayed in to hold Coastal Carolina scoreless in the 10th, 11th and 12th as he allowed one run in 4.1 innings.
Marist will wrap up play in the Chanticleer Classic on Sunday, when the Red Foxes face Toledo at noon. The Red Foxes' scheduled starter is junior righty Brett Houseal (Landisville, Pa.).
