RADFORD, Va. - The Marist baseball team had a furious ninth-inning rally come up just short in a 6-4 loss at Radford on Saturday. Down by six runs entering their last at-bat, the Red Foxes scored all four of their runs in the top of the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate before the final out was recorded.

After pinch-hitter Sam Berry (South Hamilton, Mass.) opened the ninth with a single, red-shirt junior Mark Stuckey (Marietta, Pa.) homered to cut Radford's lead to 6-2. The Red Foxes then loaded the bases, and freshman Alec Petrone (Mahopac, N.Y.) scored on a double-play ball to make the score 6-3. Marist plated its final run on an infield single by sophomore Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.), which brought home sophomore Jake Berry (South Hamilton, Mass.).

Marist had six hits in the game, three of which came in the ninth. McQuail was the only Red Fox with a multi-hit game, as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Radford got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second on a solo homer by Matt Hillsinger, and then scored five times in the third as Zach Costello and Matt Mack each hit two-run shots in that inning.

For Marist, junior right-hander Chris Bielak (Sayreville, N.J.) took the loss to fall to 0-1. After absorbing the five-run third, Bielak settled in to pitch four more scoreless innings, as he went seven total. Freshman right-hander Evan Davis (Little Falls, N.Y.) relieved and needed just six pitches to get through a perfect eighth.

Radford starter Tyler Costello (3-0) earned the win with 7.1 innings of shutout ball.

Marist fell to 4-8 while Radford improved to 9-10. The rubber game of the three-game set is scheduled for noon on Sunday. Junior right-hander Brett Houseal (Landisville, Pa.) will get the start for the Red Foxes, and right-hander Mark Peterson will get the call for Radford.