HIGH POINT, North Carolina -- The Red Foxes picked up their second win of the season on Friday, 8-6 vs. the High Point University Panthers. The win brings Marist to 2-2 overall (0-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) while the loss drops High Point to 1-3 (0-0 Big South Conference).

Freshman Frankie Gregoire picked up the first two hits of his career with a 2-for-5 effort with one double and two runs batted in. Senior co-captain Graham McIntire also had two hits and two RBIs, while senior co-captain Matt Pagano and junior Zachary Racusin each chipped in two hits and one run batted in.

Junior Sean Keenan got the start on the mound, throwing 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Sophomore Mike Coss pitched two innings giving up three runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout. Junior Ryan Thomas picked up his first save of the season, throwing 1 1/3 innings giving up no runs on two hits with one strikeout.

Junior Josh Greene and sophomore Carson Jackson led the Panthers with two hits and one run batted in each.

For the first time in four games, the Red Foxes did not score in the first inning and allowed their opponent to score in the opening frame. Junior Chris Clare singled to right with one out and stole second during the next at bat. Two batters later, senior Dominic Fazio singled up the middle, scoring Clare and the Panthers led 1-0.

High Point added to their lead in the bottom of the second when junior Nick Capra singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Senior Tim Mansfield singled to center, advancing Capra to third and the Panthers had first and third with no outs. Freshman JJ Woodard hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Capra to put High Point up 2-0.

The Red Foxes answered in the top of the third when Pagano and sophomore Matt Iantosca singled to lead off the inning. Sophomore Andrew Rouse hit a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman and reached on a throwing error, loading the bases with no outs. McIntire followed up with single to center that scored Pagano and Iantosca, and advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher to even the score 2-2 with men on second and third with no outs. Freshman Tyler Kapuscinski hit an RBI ground out to the shortstop that scored Rouse and advanced McIntire to third to give the Red Foxes the 3-2 lead. Racusin followed up with a single through the left side that scored McIntire, extending the lead to 4-2. During the next at bat, Racusin was picked off by the pitcher and Gregoire singled up the middle. Senior co-captain Joey Aiola singled to left center and the Red Foxes had men on first and third with two outs. During the next at bat, a passed ball allowed Gregoire to score from third and Marist led 5-3.

The Red Foxes extended the lead in the top of the sixth when freshman Jack Shirk walked with two outs. After a High Point pitching change, Pagano doubled to center field, scoring Shirk and Marist was up 6-3.

In the top of the seventh, McIntire single to second base with one out. Kapuscinski and Racusin reached on consecutive fielding errors by the shortstop and the bases were loaded with two outs. Gregoire followed up with a two run double to right center that scored McIntire and Kapuscinski and the Red Foxes were up 8-3.

Following a Red Fox pitching change, bringing on Coss for Keenan in the sixth, the Panthers answered in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Hunter Lee walked followed by a fielder's choice grounder by Clare, giving High Point a runner on first with one out.  Greene doubled to left center, advancing Clare to third, followed by a sacrifice fly to left field by Fazio and the score was 8-4 Marist. Jackson singled in the next at bat scoring Greene and the Panthers trimmed the deficit to 8-5.

The Panthers brought the game to within three runs in the bottom of the eight when Lee walked with two outs. Marist brought on closer Ryan Thomas to replace Coss and Greene followed with a single to right field scoring Lee. A strike out of the next batter ended the threat with the Red Foxes still ahead 8-6.

The Red Foxes failed to score in the top of the ninth and Thomas came back out for the bottom of the inning, looking for his first save of the season. A fielding error by the shortstop allowed junior Drew Fopeano to reach and the Panthers had a man on first with one out. Thomas dug deep and got the next two batters to pop out to the catcher and ground out and the Red Foxes walked away with the 8-6 victory.

Up next for Marist is game two of the series vs. High Point on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 PM.