Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Game One: Marist 9, Saint Peter's 8
Junior center fielder Graham McIntire (Concord, New Hampshire) led the way with four RBIs going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior right fielder Zachary Racusin (Mendham, New Jersey) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomore left fielder Tyler Kirkpatrick (Eagleville, Pennsylvania) had one RBI on 1-for-4, while junior designated Matt Pagano (Cranston, Rhode Island) had one RBI.
The Peacocks got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning off a double and then a single to bring in the base runner. The Red Foxes got on the board in the top of the third when McIntire hit a three-run home run giving Marist its first lead of the day at 3-1. In the top of the fourth with runners on second and third Racusin hit a single through the left side bringing home a run.
In the bottom of the fourth with a runner on second Saint Peter's Rob Moore sent one over the right field wall bringing the score to 4-3. The Peacocks tied the game up at 4-4 off a single to center field, and then took the lead 7-4 off a three-run home run.
The Peacocks added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh off an RBI single to left center field making the score 8-4. In the top of the ninth, Racusin hit a hard grounder to second base and a fielding error allowed a run to score. In the next at bat McIntire hit a RBI single to left field bringing the score to 8-6. Then with Kirkpatrick at the plate and the bases loaded a walk brought the Red Foxes within one run. In the next at bat Matt Pagano hit a RBI single to the pitcher to tie the game. With the bases still loaded junior second basemen Joey Aiola (Suffern, New York) hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the go ahead run.
In the bottom of the ninth, after a walk on the lead-off hitter sophomore right-hander Ryan Thomas (Ringoes, New Jersey) got three consecutive batters out getting his ninth save of the season.
Freshman left-hander Charlie Jerla (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), who pitched 0.2 innings, picked up the win for Marist. Jerla (3-0) gave up no hits and no runs with one strikeout. Senior right-hander Chris Napolitano (Wall, New Jersey) started the game for the Red Foxes and went 4.2 innings giving up eight hits with seven runs, he also had five strikeouts. For Saint Peter's, Anthony Assante pitched 2.2 innings and got the loss. Assante (1-5) gave up four hits and five runs, three of which were earned.
Game Two: Marist 7, Saint Peter's 4
Senior first basemen Steve Laurino (Carle Place, New York) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Zachary Racusin had two RBIs and one run scored on 1-for-3. Graham McIntire scored two runs and had one RBI on 2-for-4 at the plate.
The Peacocks for the second game in a row got on the board first with a RBI single to left field in the third inning. Saint Peter's added another run in the third with another RBI single to left field. The Red Foxes scored a run in the top of the fourth off a RBI sacrifice hit from Pagano.
In the top of the fifth, Racusin hit a two-run RBI double to left center to give the Red Foxes their first lead of the day. The Red Foxes added to their lead in the top of the sixth going up 4-2 after a throwing error by the Peacocks allowed Kirkpatrick to score.
Saint Peter's pulled within one run in the bottom of the sixth off a RBI double down the left field line. The Red Foxes scored a run in the top of the seventh off a McIntire RBI double over the left fielder's head. In the next at bat Laurino hit a two-run home run over the left field wall extending the Red Foxes lead to 7-3. In the bottom of the ninth, the Peacocks scored a run off a RBI single up the middle making the game 7-4. Ryan Thomas came into the game with two outs in the seventh and got the batter to fly out to third getting his second save of the day and 10th of the season.
Senior left-hander Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, New York) got the win for Marist. Vrana (4-4) pitched 6.2 innings and gave up 12 hits and four runs, three of which were earned, and eight strikeouts. John Leiter (2-7), who pitched 6.2 innings, got the loss for Saint Peter's. Leiter gave up nine hits and seven runs and had two strikeouts.
With the doubleheader sweep the Red Foxes secured the six seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament. The Red Foxes will play the #3 seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats on Wednesday, May 20 at noon at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, New York.
