POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK – The Marist baseball team (11-18-1, 6-6) used a great pitching effort to defeat Rider 7-6 on Sunday afternoon. The Red Foxes won two of the three games in the series.

Junior left fielder Matt Pagano (Cranston, Rhode Island) had a team-high three RBIs and was 2-for-4 at the plate. Senior first basemen Steve Laurino (Carle Place, New York) had two RBIs and two runs scored on 1-for-3, while sophomore designated hitter Tyler Kirkpatrick (Eagleville, Pennsylvania) had one RBI and was 1-for-4.

The Broncs took an early lead scoring one run in the third, and added to their lead in the fifth with a three-run inning. The Red Foxes tied up the game scoring four runs in the sixth inning. Laurino drove in three runs with a single up the middle. A fielding error by the Rider center fielder allowed the third run to score and Laurino to advance to second. Two batters later Kirkpatrick doubled to center field and Laurino scored to tie the game at four all.

Rider scored two runs in the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead. In the bottom half of the inning Pagano hit a 3 RBI double to right center field giving the Red Foxes a 7-6 lead. Rider got the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, but sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan Thomas (Ringoes, New Jersey) got the Red Foxes out of the jam and picked up the save.

Senior left-handed pitcher Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, New York) pitched an incredible game going 8.0 innings and picked up the win for Marist. Vrana (3-3) gave up only two earned runs and eight hits while striking out four batters. Rider's Josh Sharik (1-2) pitched 1.0 innings in the loss for the Broncs. Sharik gave up two hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts.

The Red Foxes return to action on Tuesday, April 21 for a single game at St. John's. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.