LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Marist baseball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Rider on Saturday. The Red Foxes prevailed in the first game, 13-9, but dropped the second game, 7-2.

On the day, senior shortstop Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.) was 3-for-6 with three runs scored, freshman designated hitter Tyler Kirkpatrick (Eagleville, Pa.) went 3-for-7 with three runs and two RBIs and sophomore right fielder Matt Pagano (Cranston, R.I.) drove in four runs.

Game One

Marist rebounded from a pair of two-run deficits, as the Red Foxes trailed 3-1 after three innings and 4-2 after four.

The Red Foxes trailed 4-3 entering the sixth, but took the lead for good with a four-run inning on just two hits. After Rider battled back to cut Marist's lead to 7-6 in the bottom half of the inning, the Red Foxes responded with four runs in the seventh and two more in the ninth. The Broncs scored three runs in the ninth, but Marist freshman right-hander Ryan Thomas (Ringoes, N.J.) retired all three Rider hitters he faced to end the game.

Marist was outhit, 13-8, but the Red Foxes benefitted from 11 walks, six wild pitches, five passed balls, three hit batsmen and two Rider errors. Meanwhile, the Red Foxes had no errors, no wild pitches, no passed balls and no hit batsmen while issuing just two walks. The top five Red Foxes in the lineup – sophomore center fielder Graham McIntire (Concord, N.H.), Kirkpatrick, McQuail, senior left fielder Zachary Passerelle (Sparta, N.J.) and junior first baseman Steve Laurino (Carle Place, N.Y.) – combined to score 11 runs.

Senior left-hander Jordan Eich (Spencerport, N.Y.) went the first five innings to pick up the win as he improved to 2-3. Junior right-hander Chris Napolitano (Wall, N.J.) retired nine straight Broncs from the sixth through the eighth.

Rider reliever Josh Sharik (0-3) took the loss. The Broncs were led offensively by catcher Ken Kremer, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Game Two

Rider got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. The Broncs held a 2-0 lead until the fourth, when left fielder James Locklear's grand slam put them up 6-0. Rider added another run before the inning was over.

Marist scored its two runs in the seventh. Laurino doubled with one out, which was followed by an RBI triple off the bat of Pagano. An RBI groundout by freshman third baseman Ben Moller (Warrington, Pa.) brought home Pagano.

Freshman right-hander Scott Boches (Feasterville, Pa.) took the loss and fell to 2-2. Senior right-hander Chris Thorsen (Lititz, Pa.) finished the game with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Rider lefty Zach Mawson (2-3) pitched a complete game five-hitter for the Broncs with three strikeouts and no walks allowed.

Marist is now 8-19 overall and 2-6 in the MAAC; Rider is 7-17 overall and 2-1 in the MAAC. The teams will wrap up their three-game series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.