BUFFALO, NEW YORK – The Marist baseball team (14-22-1, 8-8 MAAC) dropped a doubleheader at Canisius (23-25, 11-6 MAAC) on Saturday afternoon. In game one the Red Foxes lost 4-2, before dropping game two 5-1.

Game One: Canisius 4, Marist 2

Senior first basemen Steve Laurino (Carle Place, New York) went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Junior designated hitter Matt Pagano (Cranston, Rhode Island) had one RBI and was 2-for-4. Junior center fielder Graham McIntire (Concord, New Hampshire) had one run scored and was 1-for-3.

The Red Foxes got on the board first, but no until the fourth inning. Laurino hit a RBI triple to center field, and Pagano hit a RBI single to center field giving the Red Foxes a 2-0 lead. Canisius pulled within one run in the bottom of the fifth.

Canisius tied the game up in the bottom of the eighth off an RBI single through the right side. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on and one out Connor Panas hit a home run to win the game for the Golden Griffins 4-2.

Brandon Bielecki (3-2), who pitched 3.0 innings, picked up the win for Canisius. Bielecki gave up three hits and zero runs and three strike outs. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Dearden (LaGrange, New York) pitched 1.2 innings and got the loss for Marist. Dearden (1-2) gave up three runs on four hits. Senior right-hander Chris Napolitano (Wall, New Jersey) got the start for the Red Foxes. Napolitano pitched 7.0 innings and gave up four hits and one earned run.

Game Two: Canisius 5, Marist 1

Junior third basemen Matt Belitz (Ossining, New York) had the lone RBI in the game for the Red Foxes on 1-for-2 at the plate. Redshirt sophomore Zachary Racusin (Mendham, New Jersey) went 2-for-4, while senior catcher Mark Swertfager (Katonah, New York) had one run scored on 2-for-3 at the plate.

For the second time of the day the Red Foxes scored first. In the top of the second inning, Belitz singled to center field allowing Swertfager to reach home. Canisius tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning. The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning when the Golden Griffins scored four runs to take a commanding 5-1 lead. The game ended at 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning.

Devon Stewart (5-6), who pitched a complete 7.0 inning game, picked up the win for Canisius. Senior right-hander Evan Davis (Little Falls, New York) pitched 4.1 innings in the loss for Marist. Davis (3-7) gave up five runs on seven hits and gave up 5 strike outs.

The Red Foxes return to action on Sunday, May 3 for the final game of the series with Canisius. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.