GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Marist baseball team suffered a 7-3 loss at Furman in the opener of a three-game series on Friday afternoon.

Red-shirt sophomore left fielder Zachary Racusin (Mendham, N.J.) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior center fielder Graham McIntire (Concord, N.H.) was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Senior right-hander Chris Napolitano (Wall, N.J.) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, and junior right-hander Erik Bauer (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) did not allow a hit or run in his two innings out of the bullpen.

After Furman scored a run in the bottom of the first, Marist took the lead with a two-run third. A one-out single by McIntire drove in senior catcher Mark Brennan (Wallingford, Conn.), who led off the inning by being hit with a pitch. Senior first baseman Steve Laurino (Carle Place, N.Y.) then singled to drive in Racusin.

The Red Foxes added to their lead in the fifth when Racusin led off the inning with a triple, and McIntire brought him home with a sacrifice fly. However, the Paladins took the lead for good with six runs in the bottom of the fifth. Furman sent 10 hitters to the plate and had six hits in the inning. The big blow was a two-run double by right fielder Jake Jones.

Will Gaddis (2-0), who went the first six innings, picked up the win for Furman. Senior right-hander Evan Davis (Little Falls, N.Y.) took the loss for the Red Foxes and fell to 0-2. Davis struck out four in 4.2 innings.     

Marist and Furman continue their series on Saturday with a single game. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.