Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Marist baseball team suffered a 6-5 loss at UNC Greensboro in the rubber game of a three-game series on Sunday. The Red Foxes were able to get the tying run to third base in the ninth after having trimmed a two-run deficit to one, but were unable to complete the comeback.
The Red Foxes had nine hits in the contest, and were led offensively by freshman third baseman Matt Belitz (Ossining, N.Y.), who was 3-for-3 with a run scored. Senior shortstop Zach Shank (Lititz, Pa.) drove in two runs and also scored one.
UNC Greensboro had 12 hits, and four Spartans had two hits. Catcher Cambric Moye put the Spartans ahead for good with a three-run homer in the fifth inning.
Marist scored a run in the first as sophomore left fielder Steve Laurino (Carle Place, N.Y.0 belted a one-out triple, and came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Shank. UNC Greensboro then grabbed the lead with single runs in the first and second.
The Red Foxes then grabbed the lead on the strength of a three-run fifth. Belitz led off the inning with a single, and came around to score on another sacrifice fly by Shank. Senior first baseman Mike Orefice (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) then doubled on the 10th pitch of his at-bat, which scored freshman right fielder Graham McIntire (Concord, N.H.). Junior second baseman Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.) then singled on the 10th pitch of his at-bat to bring in Orefice and give Marist a 4-2 lead. However, Moye's homer in the bottom of the frame put the Spartans ahead for good.
UNC Greensboro added an insurance run in the eighth to make it 6-4. However, the Red Foxes fought back in the ninth. Thanks to two errors and a walk, the Red Foxes scored one run and had runners on second and third with none out. However, Caleb Henley came out of the bullpen for UNC Greensboro to induce an infield pop-out and two groundouts - one of which resulted in a runner being thrown out at the plate - to preserve the Spartans' one-run lead.
Reliever Adam Anderson (1-0) recorded the win for UNC Greensboro. Henley's save was his first. Senior right-hander Brett Houseal (Landisville, Pa.) took the loss for Marist, giving up five runs in five innings. Houseal struck out four and only allowed one walk. Junior right-hander Chris Thorsen (Lititz, Pa.) gave Marist 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just one hit and one walk.
Marist fell to 4-6; UNC Greensboro improved to 8-5.
Marist returns to action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Maryland. First pitch of game one is set for noon. The Terrapins are coached by John Szefc, who guided the Red Foxes from 1996-2002 and led the program to its first four NCAA Tournament appearances.
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