HIGH POINT, North Carolina – The Red Foxes dropped the rubber match of their three game series at the High Point Panthers on Sunday by a final score of 9-7. With the loss, Marist falls to 2-4 (0-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) while the Panthers improve to 3-3 (0-0 Big South Conference).

Junior Zachary Racusin led the Red Foxes with a 2-for-5 effort at the plate to go along with two runs batted in. Senior co-captain Joey Aiola chipped in with a 1-for-3 effort including a triple and three runs batted in. Freshman Frankie Gregoire extended his hit streak to three games, going 1-for-4 with two runs scored. The Red Foxes finished with ten hits total as a team.

Freshman Kevin Stewart got the start, throwing 4 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Sophomore Michael Hunter picked up the loss, tossing one inning and giving up three runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout. Sophomore Tony Romanelli threw 2 2/3 innings and gave up one run on four hits with one walk and two strike outs.

Sophomores Hunter Lee and Austen Zente led High Point with three hits each, while the team totaled seventeen on the afternoon. 

The Red Foxes opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Senior co-captain Graham McIntire reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and advanced to second on a baulk during the next at bat. Racusin followed with a single through the left side, scoring McIntire and Marist was ahead 1-0.

High Point answered back in the bottom of the third when Lee doubled to right field with one out. Junior Chris Clare hit a single to second base and the Panthers had men on first and third with one out. Junior Josh Greene followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Lee and the score was even at 1-1. Clare stole second during the next at bat which was followed by a double to center field by senior Dominic Fazio that scored Clare and the Panthers were ahead 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, the Red Foxes answered with a leadoff single by junior Greg Koscinski who advanced to second after the next batter grounded out to the pitcher. McIntire walked two batters later and Marist had men on first and second with two outs. Racusin followed with a single to right field that scored Kocinski that tied the game at 2-2 and advanced McIntire to third. Senior co-captain Matt Pagano doubled to right field in the next at bat, scoring McIntire and the Red Foxes had men on second and third with two outs and a 3-2 lead. After a High Point pitching change, Gregoire walked to load the bases and Aiola tripled down the right field line, scoring McIntire, Pagano and Gregoire, giving Marist a 6-2 lead.

The Panthers answered back in the bottom of the inning when Zente singled through the left side to lead things off. Zente tried to steal second during the next at bat but catcher Nick Rybarcyzk fired a laser to sophomore Andrew Rouse at shortstop to gun down Zente for the first out. Junior Luke Parker was hit by a pitch and stole second before a fly out to left field gave High Point a man on second with two outs. Parker advanced to third on a baulk  and freshman JJ Woodard followed with a single to right center that scored Parker and trimmed the deficit to 6-3.  

In the bottom of the fifth, the Panthers continued their offensive momentum. Fazio singled through the left side with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball. Jackson walked, Zente singled to center field and the bases were loaded with one out. Hunter came in to replace Stewart and got a pop up to the first baseman before Capra tripled down the right field line, scoring Fazio, Jackson and Zente and tied the game at 6-6.

High Point made it three consecutive innings with runs when in the bottom of the sixth Greene singled to center field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Jackson doubled to right center two batters later that scored Greene and the Red Foxes made another pitching change bringing on Romanelli. Jackson stole third and scored on a throwing error and the Panthers were ahead 8-6.

Marist made it 8-7 in the top of the seventh. Gregoire single to center and advanced on a pass ball two at bats later. Rybarcyzk flied out to right field, advancing Gregoire to third who scored on a Kocinski single to center one batter later. Freshman Anthony Lazar followed with a single and the Red Foxes had men on first and second, down by one run but were unable to score again as Rouse grounded out to the pitcher.

Looking to bolster their lead, the Panters added their ninth and final run in the bottom of the eighth when Jackson homered to left field and gave High Point a 9-7 advantage.

Marist tried to come back in the top of the ninth and had a man on with one out after an Aiola walk but a game ending four-six-three double play gave High Point the 9-7 win.

Up next for the Red Foxes is a road trip to Richmond, Virginia and a three game series at Virginia Commonwealth on Friday (3 PM), Saturday (2 PM) and Sunday (1 PM).