Box Score LOUDONVILLE, New York – For the second time in two days, the Red Foxes fell in extra innings to the Siena Saints, this time by a final score of 10-9 in 10 innings. With the loss, Marist ends the regular season at 24-25 (13-11 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) while the win improves Siena to 23-30 (16-8 MAAC).
John Brucker, in his final regular season game, led the Red Foxes going 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI. Zachary Racusin chipped in a 3-for-3 effort with three runs scored and one RBI, Tyler Kirkpatrick finished 2-for-4 with one RBI, Frankie Gregoire went 2-for-6 with two runs scored and one RBI, Andrew Rouse finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and one RBI and Anthony Lazar chipped in a 2-for-6 effort with a run scored. Senior co-captains Graham McIntire and Joey Aiola each picked up a hit and McIntire had two RBI and Matt Iantosca finished with a walk and a run scored.
Sean Keenan got the start and threw six innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Tony Romanelli pitched one inning and gave up no runs on no hits and Ryan Thomas picked up his third loss of the year, throwing two and one third innings while giving up four runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
The Red Foxes opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when Kirkpatrick singled to left center with one out. Iantosca reached on a fielder's choice that erased Kirkpatrick at second and Racusin followed with a single to the shortstop to set up men on first and second with two outs. Rouse singled to right, scoring Iantosca and advancing Racusin to third and then stole second during the next at bat. Brucker followed with a two RBI single to right center that scored both runners and Marist was ahead 3-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Red Foxes added to their lead. Following back-to-back fly outs, Lazar got things started with a single to the shortstop and Gregoire doubled to left center to make it 4-0. Aiola singled on a bunt to set up men on first and third and Kirkpatrick singled to third, scoring Gregoire and Marist was up 5-0.
The Saints answered in the bottom of the fifth when Brian Kelly led off with a single to right center and Ryne Martinez hit a double down the left field line to set up men on second and third with no outs. Dan Lowndes followed with a sac fly that scored Kelly and Ian Dillard singled to center, scoring Martinez and it was 5-2 Red Foxes. Tyler Martis reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and advanced to second and advanced Dillard to third. In the next at bat, Phil Madonna doubled down the left field line, scoring Dillard and Martis and the lead was down to 5-4 Marist.
The Red Foxes got one back their next time up in the sixth when Racusin led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch during the next at bat. Rouse followed with a single to right center to set up men on first and third with no outs and Brucker laid down a perfect sac bunt to the right of the pitcher that allowed Racusin to score and Marist was back up by two 6-4.
For the third consecutive innings, the Red Foxes scored in the top of the seventh. Following a Siena pitching change, Gregoire led off with a single to right field and following a fly out, Kirkpatrick and Iantosca walked to load the bases with one out. Racusin hit a sac fly to right field that scored Gregoire and it was 7-4 Marist.
In the bottom of the seventh, Lowndes led off with a double for the Saints and Dillard followed with another double to score Lowndes. Martis singled to the shortstop with Dillard holding at second and Romanelli came in to pitch for Keenan. Madonna followed with a sac bunt that advanced the runners to second and third with one out and Jordan Bishop hit a sac fly to right field that scored Dillard to make the score 7-6.
After Thomas replaced Romanelli in the eighth, Siena came to bat in the bottom of the ninth down by one run. Thomas retired the first two batters on a ground out and a strike out before the Saints sent up Patrick Ortland to pinch hit and with two strkes in the count, Ortland launched a game tying home run to right field to send the game into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth, Racusin singled to center with one out and two batters later, Brucker singled to left center, sending Racusin to third before he advanced to second on the throw. McIntire followed with his first hit of the game, sending a single into center field that scored both runners and the Red Foxes were back on top 9-7.
Thomas returned to the mound for the bottom of the 10th and retired the first batter on a foul pop up to the first baseman. Fred Smart and Kelly then followed with singles to left center for Siena to set up men on first and second with one out. Martinez walked to load the bases and Lowndes hit a single to left center, scoring Smart to make it 9-8 with the bases still loaded. Dillard followed with a nub single to the third baseman that just rolled dead between the pitcher and third base which scored Kelly and the game was tied 9-9. In the next at bat, Max Goione was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run and Siena walked off with the 10-9 win.
Up next, Marist will head to the 2016 MAAC Championship at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY next Wednesday through Saturday. With their 13-8 record in the conference, the Red Foxes clinched the #5 seed and will play the #4 seed, which has yet to be determined, at 3:30 PM on Wednesday.
