QUEENS, NEW YORK – The Marist baseball team (11-19-1, 6-6 MAAC) held a lead for the majority of the game, but fell to St. John's (22-13) by a score of 5-4 on Tuesday evening.

Redshirt sophomore Zachary Racusin (Mendham, New Jersey) led the Red Foxes on 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Junior shortstop Matt Belitz (Ossining, New York) was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Senior first basemen Steve Laurino (Carle Place, New York) had two RBIs and was 1-for-4.

The Red Foxes took an early lead scoring a run in the first inning. Racusin scored off a Laurino single through the right side. In the second inning Laurino was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded scoring the second run of the game. St. John's scored a run in the third inning, and another in the fifth to tie the game up at 2-2.

In the sixth inning Racusin hit a two run RBI triple to center field regaining the Red Foxes lead at 4-2. The Red Storm pulled within one with a run in the sixth inning off a sacrifice fly. St. John's took the lead for the first and final time in the seventh inning scoring two runs.

Junior right-hander Erik Bauer, who pitched 1.0 innings, picked up the loss for Marist. Bauer (0-1) gave up one hit and two earned runs with one strikeout. The Red Foxes had five different pitchers in the game. Freshman Spencer Bunting (Rocky Hill, Connecticut) made the start for the Red Foxes and pitched 3.0 innings with three hits and one earned run. Chris Kalica pitched 3.0 innings in the win for St. John's. Kalica (3-2) gave up three hits and two runs with two strike outs.

The Red Foxes return to action on Saturday, April 25 for a doubleheader with Quinnipiac. First pitch is scheduled for noon.