CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Marist baseball team got the tying run on base in the top of the ninth, but came up short in an 8-5 loss at Virginia on Tuesday.
Freshman Alec Petrone (Mahopac, N.Y.) paced the Red Foxes offensively by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Sophomore left fielder Jake Berry (South Hamilton, Mass.) and freshman catcher Mark Brennan (Wallingford, Conn.) had two hits apiece.
After Virginia scored once in the bottom of the first, Marist grabbed the lead with four runs in the top of the second. Petrone's two-run double gave the Red Foxes a 2-1 lead, and an RBI groundout by Berry put Marist up 3-1. An infield error then enabled Marist to get a three-run lead.
However, the Cavaliers - who reached the College World Series in 2011 - answered with four runs in their half of the second. Virginia then added single runs in the third and fourth innings to go up 7-4.
Marist cut its deficit to 7-5 in the top of the sixth when Petrone started a two-out rally with a single, Berry followed with another one, and then another single by junior shortstop Zach Shank (Lititz, Pa.) brought home Petrone. However, Virginia added a run in the sixth to re-claim a three-run lead.
The Red Foxes started a one-out rally in the top of the ninth. Junior first baseman Mike Orefice (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, and then sophomore third baseman Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.) drew a walk on a full count. Red-shirt junior designated hitter Ben Luderer (River Vale, N.J.) followed with a single to load the bases, but then a pair of lineouts ended the game.
Freshman lefty Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), making his first career start, took the loss. Vrana went three-plus innings. Freshman right-hander Brandon Dolan (Franklin Park, N.J.) allowed just one run in five innings of relief.
For Virginia, Branden Kline went the first six innings to earn the victory. Justin Thompson got the final two outs to record the save. Shortstop Chris Taylor went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and catcher Keith Werman went 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Marist fell to 3-6; Virginia improved to 10-5-1. The teams will wrap up their two-game series on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
