HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT – The Marist baseball team (13-20-1, 8-7 MAAC) used a ninth inning comeback to defeat Quinnipiac (20-20, 12-6 MAAC) by a score of 8-7 on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore left fielder Tyler Kirkpatrick (Eagleville, Pennsylvania) had a team-high three RBIs and was 2-for-5 with one run scored. Junior designated hitter Matt Pagano (Cranston, Rhode Island) went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Junior second basemen Joey Aiola (Suffern, New York) had two RBIs and one run scored on 1-for-3, while junior center fielder Graham McIntire (Concord, New Hampshire) had one run scored and one RBI.

The Red Foxes scored first in the game with a run in the first inning off a Pagano double to left center. The game didn't see another run until the bottom of the fourth inning when Quinnipiac scored two runs taking its first lead of the game. In the top of the fifth McIntire grounded out to the third basemen driving in junior shortstop John Brucker (Sparta, New Jersey) tying the game up at 2-2. The Bobcats scored a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning building a 5-2 lead.

The Red Foxes scored two runs in the eighth of a Kirkpatrick single to left center field, and a sacrifice bunt by Aiola cutting the lead to one. In the ninth Pagano drove in a run on a fielder's choice hit, Kirkpatrick hit a two-run homer and Aiola homered giving the Red Foxes an 8-5 lead. Quinnipiac scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth but couldn't manage anymore and the Red Foxes held on to win 8-7.

Junior right-handed pitcher Erik Bauer (Putnam Valley, New York) pitched 1.1 innings picking up the win for Marist. Bauer (1-1) gave up zero hits with one strikeout. Senior left-hander Rich Vrana made the start and pitched 6.2 innings. Vrana gave up nine hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts. Gregory Egan (0-1), who pitched 1.0 innings, picked up the loss for Quinnipiac. Egan gave up three hits and four earned runs. Marist sophomore closer Ryan Thomas (Ringoes, New Jersey) got his sixth save of the year.

The Red Foxes return to action on Wednesday, April 29 for the tenth edition of the Hudson Valley Baseball Classic with Army West Point. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.