ALBANY, N.Y. - The Red Foxes faced off versus their neighbor to the north, the University of Albany in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday afternoon. An early deficit proved too much for Marist to overcome as they fell by a final score of 10-3. Sophomore Pat Welsh (Millersville, Pa.) led a trio of Red Foxes with two hits as the visitors outhit their host 10-7.

The Great Danes put a nine run margin in between them and the Red Foxes by the conclusion of the fourth inning. A five-run spot in the bottom of the second inning kicked off the early Albany offense.

The Red Foxes began their comeback attempt in the top of the fifth inning. The first frame, in which they had more than one hit, began with red-shirt junior Ben Luderer (River Vale, N.J.) being hit by a pitch. Following a drawn walk by red-shirt sophomore Mark Stuckey (Marietta, Pa.), Welsh singled to load the bases for Chris Napolitano (Wall, N.J.). The freshman third baseman drove in Marist's first run with a single up the middle to score Luderer. Two batters later, sophomore Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.) drove in run number two with a fielder's choice.

Trailing 9-2, Marist chipped away in the next inning with another run. Pinch-hitter Mark Swertfager (Katonah, N.Y.), who reached base via a walk, came around to score on a Welsh double down the line with two outs.

Building off the momentum that they had in the prior two innings, the Red Foxes had hits and subsequent runners in scoring position in each of the final three innings. Unfortunately for Marist, Albany's pitching staff managed to leave the runners stranded in each case.

A Great Dane solo run in the top of the seventh completed the scoring at 10-3.

Individually, Welsh, Napolitano and freshman Alec Petrone (Mahopac, N.Y.) paced the offense with 2-4 days at the plate. On the mound, sophomore Chris Thorsen (Lititz, Pa.) and freshman Sam Berry (South Hamilton, Mass.) gave the Red Foxes 4.2 innings of one-run relief, including four no-hit innings by Thorsen. Starting pitcher junior Dan Zlotnick (Katonah, N.Y.) took the loss for Marist.

The Red Foxes will be back in non-conference action on Wednesday, March 21 when they travel to Fordham in their final tune-up before their conference opener this weekend at home versus Manhattan. Wednesday's game in the Bronx is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch.