DOVER, Delaware – The Red Foxes completed the weekend sweep on Saturday, taking both ends of a double header against the Delaware State Hornets, 15-0 and 4-3 respectively. With the two wins, Marist improves to 5-7 (0-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) while the loses drop the Hornets to 0-15 (0-0 Mid Eastern Athletic Conference).

Junior Tyler Kirkpatrick led the Red Foxes with a combined 5-for-7 effort in the two games with three runs batted in and three runs scored. Junior Greg Kocinski chipped in a combined 4-for-6 with four RBIs and three runs scored. The Red Foxes compiled 15 hits as a team in Game 1 and five in Game 2.

Sophomore Charlie Jerla picked up the win in Game 1, throwing eight innings of one hit ball, giving up no runs, while striking out a season high 10. Jerla faced twenty six batters and allowed only two to reach base on a walk and hit. Sophomore Thomas Henderson pitched one inning of relief and gave up no hits or runs, while striking out one batter.

Sophomore Tony Romanelli got the start and win in Game 2, pitching four innings, while giving up four hits and three runs to go along with two strikeouts. Sophomore Michael Hunter pitched two thirds of an inning, giving up one hit, sophomore Mike Coss threw one and one third innings giving up one hit to go along with two strike outs and junior Ryan Thomas picked up his third save of the season, throwing one inning, giving up no runs and no hits.

Freshman Todd Henry led the Hornets on the afternoon, going 2-for-7 in the two games with one run scored. Delaware State totaled one hit in Game 1 and six in Game 2.

GAME 1:

The Red Foxes got on the board in the top of the second inning when Kirkpatrick led off with a single up the middle. Freshman Frankie Gregoire doubled down the left field line that advanced Kirkpatrick to third before he scored on a throwing error by the left fielder to give Marist the 1-0 lead. Gregoire advanced to third on a passed ball, senior co-captain Joey Aiola walked, Kockinski walked and the bases were loaded. Gregoire scored on a passed ball during the next at bat. Freshman Anthony Lazar reached on a fielders choice that advanced Kocinski to second and then third on an error by the second baseman that also allowed Aiola to score and the Red Foxes led 3-0. Senior co-captain Graham McIntire followed up with an RBI ground out and Marist extended their lead to 4-0.

Two innings later, the Red Foxes added to their lead in the top of the fourth. Kocinski led off with a double to right field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a strike out, Lazar singled through the left side, scoring Kocinski and giving Marist the 5-0 lead.

The Hornets got their first and only hit of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth with a one out single by senior Sam Barber.

The Red Foxes doubled their lead in the top of the sixth with Gregoire leading off with a single to left field. Aiola sinlged up the middle and after a pitching change, Kocinski singled through the right side, scoring Gregoire. Sophomore Matt Iantosca followed with a sac fly to center field that score Aiola and Marist was ahead 7-0. Kocinski advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher and Lazar followed with a double to left field that scored Kocinski. McIntire followed with his first home run of the season, a two run shot to left center and Marist was ahead 10-0.

For the second time in the game, the Red Foxes put a five spot on the board in the top of the eighth inning. McIntire singled with one out which was followed by a single through the right side by sophomore Andrew Rouse. Both runners advanced one base on a wild pitch and junior Zachary Racusin hit a sac fly to right field that scored McIntire. Kirkpatrick notched a single in the next at bat that scored Rouse and Gregoire made it back-to-back- hits with a single up the middle. Gregoire and Kirkpatrick advanced one base on a wild pitch, Aiola walked and the Hornets went back to the bullpen and a pitching change. Kocinski singled to left, scoring Gregoire and Kocinski and Iantosca made it four hits in five batters with a RBI single through the left side that scored Aiola and extended the Marist lead to 15-0.

Jerla continued his pitching dominance with a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth and Henderson got the job done in the bottom of the ninth and the Red Foxes emerged with their largest victory of the season 15-0.

Game 2:

Following their largest offensive output of the season in runs, Marist looked to continue their momentum in Game 2.

The Hornets scored first in the bottom of the first inning when Henry singled up the middle followed by a single by freshman Darnell Maisonet-Velez on a bunt. A sac bunt set up men on second and third with one out and freshman Chris Panzarella followed with an RBI ground out to second to give Delaware State the 1-0 lead.

The lead lasted just a half inning, as the Red Foxes tied the game in the top of the second. Kirkpatrick reached on a throwing error by the shortstop. After back-to-back fly outs, Kirkpatrick stole second and Kocinski singled to first, scoring Kirkpatrick to tie the game at 1-1.

Marist added to their lead in the top of the third when senior John Brucker doubled down the right field line and advanced to third on fly out during the next at bat. Rouse reached on a fielder's choice when Brucker was thrown out at home trying to score from third. Racusin singled to center, setting up men on first and third and Kirkpatrick singled through the right side, scoring Rouse and giving the Red Foxes the 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Marist made it three consecutive innings with runs. Aiola led off with a walk and advanced to second and third on throwing errors by the pitcher and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 in favor of the visiting team.

The Hornets answered back in the bottom of the inning when senior Cameron Onderko singled to lead things off. Onderko advanced to second two batters later on a ground out to third and the next batter was hit by a pitch setting up men on first and second with two outs. Freshman Rich Rountree tripled to right center that scored both runners and the game was tied at 3-3.

The Red Foxes regained the lead a half inning later in the top of the fifth. McIntire walked and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Rouse. Two batters later, Kirkpatrick singled through the left side, scoring McIntire and Marist was ahead 4-3.

Neither team scored in the sixth and the game entered the bottom of the seventh with the Red Foxes clinging to the one run lead. Thomas came on to get the save and the first batter reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman. The next batter grounded out, before the runner advanced to third on a passed ball. The next batter was hit by a pitch and the Hornets had men on first and third with one out. With the game on the line, Thomas got the next batter to ground to Kocinski at first base who fired a laser to Iantosca at home to nail the runner trying to score from third for the second out. With a man on second and two outs, Thomas shut the door with a game ending fielder's choice ground out and the Red Foxes completed the weekend sweep.

Up next for Marist is a game against the University of Albany on Tuesday (TBA).  The game was originally scheduled to be played at Central Connecticut State University due to field conditions, however, could be rescheduled to either be played at Marist or Albany. Check back to goredfoxes.com to confirm the location of the game.