Box Score NEW ROCHELLE, New York – The Red Foxes picked up their fourth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win on Sunday and Ryan Thomas picked up the 25th save of his career to pass Rob Ryan (2004-07) for first all-time in program history, with a 7-6 victory over the Iona College Gaels. With the win, Marist improves to 11-12 (4-2 MAAC) while Iona drops to 7-17 (2-1 MAAC).
Co-captain Joey Aiola led the Red Foxes on the afternoon, going 2-for-5 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Frankie Gregoire chipped in going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored, co-captain Graham McIntire went 2-for-5 with one run scored, Tyler Kirkpatrick went 1-for-5 with one run scored and Matt Iantosca, Anthony Lazar and John Brucker each notched one hit on the afternoon. Marist totaled 10 hits total.
Scott Boches got the start and threw four innings while giving up five runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Spencer Bunting picked up his second win of the year, pitching two innings of one hit ball, Tyler Dearden threw two innings and gave up one run on one hit and Thomas got his eighth save of the year throwing a perfect ninth inning.
Sean Breen led the Gaels, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In conditions more conducive to February, not April, Iona got on the board first in the bottom of the third. Seth Hoagland led off with a triple to right center and Vinny DeMaria walked. Kyle DiVico singled through the left side, scoring Hoagland and Fran Kinsey singled to the pitcher on a bunt to load the bases. Two batters later, Breen singled to left, scoring DiVico and DeMaria and the Gaels led 3-0. Travis Mistretta singled to right to load the bases and Lou Matarazzo hit a sac fly to center that scored Kinsey for the 4-0 lead.
The Red Foxes got one run back in the top of the fourth when Gregoire launched his second homer of the year over the left field fence, trimming the deficit to 4-1.
The Gaels extended their lead back to four runs in the bottom of the inning when Hoagland singled up the middle. After the next batter struck out, Hoagland advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher on a pick off attempt and went to third on a passed ball during the following at bat. DiVico hit a sac fly to left field that scored Hoagland and the score was 5-1 in favor of the home team.
Continuing the offensive trend in the game, Marist answered back in the top of the fifth. Rouse was hit by a pitch to lead things off. Two batters later, he advanced to second on a wild pitch and Kirkpatrick singled through the left side, setting up men on first and third with one out. After a strikeout, Aiola ripped a double to right center that scored both Rouse and Kirkpatrick. Gregoire followed with a double to left center, scoring Aiola and the Red Foxes trailed 5-4.
Two innings later in the top of the seventh, Marist finally took the lead when McIntire singled to lead off following an Iona pitching change. Two batters later, he stole second and Zachary Racusin reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, giving the Red Foxes men on first and third. Following another pitching change, Aiola laced his second double of the game, scoring Racusin and McIntire and advanced to third on the throw home and then scored on a throwing error by the second baseman and Marist was ahead 7-5.
In the bottom of the seventh, Dearden replaced Bunting who'd come on for Boches in the bottom of the fifth. Kinsey walked for Iona with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch. Matt Byrne followed with an RBI ground out to the shortstop and the Gaels trimmed the deficit to 7-6.
With the one run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Red Foxes brought on Thomas who pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning for his record setting 25th career save and the 7-6 Marist victory.
Up next, the Red Foxes return home for a non-conference double header vs. the University of Albany on Tuesday. Game 1 is scheduled for 2 PM with Game 2 beginning approximately thirty minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
