POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK – The Marist baseball team (15-24-1, 9-11 MAAC) split a double header on Saturday afternoon with Fairfield (15-29, 8-12 MAAC) at McCann Baseball Field. The Red Foxes won game one 7-4, before falling in game two 5-1.

Game One: Marist 7, Fairfield 4

Redshirt sophomore right fielder Zachary Racusin (Mendham, New Jersey) went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Junior second basemen Joey Aiola (Suffern, New York) had two RBIs on 1-for 3. Sophomore left fielder Tyler Kirkpatrick (Eagleville, Pennsylvania) scored two runs and was 2-for-3, while sophomore pinch hitter Greg Kocinski (Belle Meade, New Jersey) had one RBI in his one plate appearance.

The Stags struck first in the game going up 2-0 off a two-run RBI single in the top of the second inning. In the bottom half of the inning Kirkpatrick got the inning started off with a single, but the red foxes couldn't make use of it failing to get Kirkpatrick home. In the top of the third, Fairfield got its third run of the game off a sacrifice fly hit deep to left field.

In the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded Aiola hit a double to center field scoring two runs, and pulling the Red Foxes within one. In the next at bat, Kirkpatrick tied the game up after scoring on a wild pitch. In the eighth, the Stags regained the lead off a RBI single to right field. 

In the bottom half of the eighth, a bases loaded walk tied the game up at 4-4. With two outs and the bases loaded, Racusin hit a double to center field scoring three runs and giving the Red Foxes a 7-4 lead. In the top of the ninth, sophomore right-hander Ryan Thomas (Ringoes, New Jersey) pitched the Stags three up and three down to end the game.

Sophomore right-hander Tyler Dearden (LaGrange, New York), who pitched 0.1 innings, picked up the win for Marist. Dearden (2-2) gave up no hits and no runs in his appearance. Senior Chris Napolitano (Wall, New Jersey) made the start for the Red Foxes at the mound. Napolitano gave up eight hits and four earned runs in 7.2 innings pitched. Fairfield's Anthony DiMauro got the loss for the Stags. DiMauro pitched 0.2 innings giving up two hits and two earned runs.

Game Two: Fairfield 5, Marist 1

Sophomore left fielder Tyler Kirkpatrick had the lone RBI for the Red Foxes going 1-for-3 from the plate. Junior center fielder Graham McIntire went 2-for-3, while senior first basemen Steve Laurino (Carle Place, New York) was 2-for 3 as well.

The Red Foxes got on the board first in the second game off a Kirkpatrick RBI single through the left side. In the top of the third, the Stags tied the game up on a single to the shortstop bringing the game to 1-1. Fairfield added to its lead in the top of the fourth off a RBI single to left field taking a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth, the Stags got two more runs off a double down the first base line making the score 4-1. Fairfield got another run in the top of the sixth inning off a hard hit RBI single to left field. Fairfield's Mike Wallace didn't allow another Red Fox run after the first inning ending the game at 5-1.

Mike Wallace pitched a complete game for the Stags and picked up the win. Wallace (5-4) gave up eight hits and only one earned run with four strikeouts. Senior left-hander Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, New York), who pitched 5.1 innings, picked up the loss for Marist. Vrana (3-4) gave up nine hits and five earned runs with one strikeout.

The Red Foxes return to action on Sunday, May 10 for the final home game of the year. Marist is scheduled to play Fairfield at noon. Senior day celebrations will begin at approximately 11:45 a.m.