RADFORD, VA. – The Marist baseball team dropped two games today in its first double-header of the season. The Red Foxes lost to Radford 5-4 in extra innings in game one, before falling 3-1 in game two.

Game One – Radford 5, Marist 4

Redshirt sophomore right fielder Zachary Racusin (Mendham, N.J.) went 3-for-5 from the plate, drove in one run and had one run scored.  Senior first basemen Steve Laurino (Carle Place, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 and had two runs scored for the Red Foxes. Sophomore designated hitter Greg Kocinski (Belle Mead, N.J.) was 1-for-3 with one RBI, while senior catcher Mark Brennan (Wallingford, Conn.) went 1-for-4 with one run scored.

Radford scored first in the game grabbing two runs in the bottom of the second inning. It wasn't until the fourth inning that the Red Foxes got on the board. Laurino singled to right field then advanced to second when junior shortstop John Brucker (Sparta, N.J.) was walked in his at bat. Laurino advanced to third on a wild pitch and was able to score off a throwing error by the Radford catcher. The Red Foxes would tie the game up in the sixth inning when Kocinski singled up the middle to drive in Laurino for his second run of the game.

Marist kept the offense rolling grabbing two more runs in the seventh inning taking 4-2 lead. Racusin tripled to right field allowing Brennan to score, while junior third basemen Matt Belitz (Ossining, N.Y.) was thrown out at home trying to score. Junior leftfielder Matt Pagano (Cranston, R.I.) then singled to third base driving in Racusin for the fourth run of the game for Marist. Radford would tie the game up in the bottom of the eighth inning scoring the first run off a sacrifice fly out, and the next on a wild pitch.

In extra innings Radford's Danny Hrbek singled through the right side of the infield driving in the game-winning run.

Sophomore right hander Tyler Dearden (0-3) pitched 0.2 innings in the loss for Marist giving up one hit and one earned run with one strikeout. Senior left-handed pitcher Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) pitched 6.0 innings for the Red Foxes giving up nine hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts.

For Radford, Ryan Meisinger (1-0) pitched a scoreless 1.2 innings of relief to pick up the win. Meisinger gave up just one hit and struck out two batters.

Game Two – Radford 3, Marist 1

Freshman second basemen Ryan Lynch (Portsmouth, R.I.) was 3-for-4 and scored the only run for the Red Foxes. Senior catcher Mark Swertfager (Katonah, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 and had one RBI. Pagano was 2-for-4 from the plate, while junior centerfielder Graham McIntire (Concord, N.H.) was 1-for-4.

The Red Foxes scored the game's first run in the top of the sixth, when Swertfager doubled down the right field line driving in Lynch. Radford then scored three runs in the eighth innings to take the lead and secure the second win of the day.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Sean Keenan (Dayton, N.J.) (0-2) pitched 2.2 innings in the loss for Marist. Keenan gave up three hits and three earned runs while striking out two batters. Freshman Spencer Bunting (Rocky Hill, Conn.) pitched 5.0 innings for the Red Foxes and gave up two hits and zero earned runs.

Pinch-hitter/right fielder Aaron Scoville had one hit and two RBI's for Radford, while designated hitter/catcher Josh Reavis picked up the other RBI.

Marist (1-8) returns to play on Tuesday, March 17 to take on Albany. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.