STARKVILLE, Mississippi – Behind home runs from junior Andrew Rouse and sophomore Randy Taveras, the Marist baseball team picked up a 9-3 win in the opening game of the weekend against the Indiana State Sycamores, its second consecutive victory of the season.

With the win, the Red Foxes improve to 3-1, their best start under head coach Chris Tracz and the best in program history since 2009 when the team also went 3-1 to start the year.

Rouse led Marist offensively on the afternoon with a 2-for-3 effort with a single, home run, two runs scored and three RBI while Taveras finished 2-for-4 with a single, home run, two runs scored and one RBI. Redshirt senior Matt Pagano continued his offensive success with a 2-for-4 effort with one RBI, redshirt junior Greg Kocinski finished 1-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI and Matt Iantosca chipped in a 1-for-3 effort with two runs scored. Sophomore Frankie Gregoire and redshirt freshman Tyler Kapuscinski each finished with one hit and one run scored each.

On the mound, Charlie Jerla picked up his second win on the year, throwing seven innings while giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Sean Keenan threw one and one third innings giving up no runs and no hits with two walks and three strikeouts and Tony Romanelli pitched two thirds of an inning and gave up no runs on no hits with one strikeout.

The Sycamores got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning when Clay Dungan led off with a double to left center field. Tyler Friis followed with a sacrifice bunt but a throwing error on the third baseman allowed Dungan to score and Friis to reach base and it was 1-0 Indiana State.

The Red Foxes answered right back in the bottom of the inning when Iantosca and Rouse led off with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt by Matt Rubayo advanced the runners to second and third and a baulk by the Sycamore pitcher allowed Iantosca to score and Rouse to move to third and the score was even 1-1. During the next at bat, Rouse scored on a wild pitch to give Marist the 2-1 lead.

One inning later, the Red Foxes extended their lead when Gregoire led off with a single and two batters later advanced to second on a baulk. Following a fly out, Pagano singled up the middle, scoring Gregoire and the lead was 3-1.

Following a scoreless fifth, Marist once again added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth. Kapuscinski led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch during the next at bat. Gregoire followed with a hit by pitch and Kocinski singled to right, scoring Kapuscinski and advancing Gregoire to second. Taveras reached on a fielder's choice with Kocinski advancing to second and there was men on first and second with one out. Following a pitching change for Indiana State, a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Following a strikeout, a baulk scored Kocinski and advanced Taveras to third, Iantosca walked and Rouse launched the first homer of his career to left field to make it 8-1 Red Foxes.

The Sycamores answered back in the top of the seventh when Tony Roselli singled with one out before Chris Ayers homered to right center, trimming the deficit to 8-3.

However, Marist was not done as they added another run in the top of the eighth when Taveras launched his first career homer in a Red Fox uniform to left field and the lead was 9-3.

Following a pitching replacement by Keenan for Jerla to start a scoreless top of the eighth, Keenan returned to the hill needing just three outs to seal the win. Dominic Bifano pinch hit for Indiana State to lead off, walked and advanced to second on a baulk before Rosselli followed with a strikeout. Romanelli then replaced Keenan and got the next two batters to strike out swinging and pop up to first base to end the game with Marist victorious 9-3.

Up next, the Red Foxes square off against the host and reigning Southeastern Conference (SEC) Champion Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday (1 PM). The game will be aired on national TV on the SEC Network and online on WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.