FISHKILL, New York – The Marist baseball team fell to the Army West Point Black Knights 4-1 in the 12th Annual Hudson Valley Baseball Classic at Dutchess Stadium on Wednesday evening.
With the loss, Marist drops to 19-18 (7-5 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) while Army West Point improves to 21-24 (8-8 Patriot League) and gives them their second consecutive win in the HVBC series.
Sophomore Anthony Lazar led the Red Foxes in the game, finishing with two hits and one RBI, while sophomore Frankie Gregoire picked up two hits. Redshirt junior Greg Kocinski, redshirt senior Matt Pagano and redshirt sophomore Chris Tracz each finished with a hit and sophomore Randy Taveras had a walk, a hit by pitch and a run scored.
Senior John Parisi started on the mound and picked up his third loss of the year, throwing one and two thirds innings, while giving up one run (none earned) on one hit with three walks and one strikeout. Freshman Austin Phillips pitched a career high three and one third innings and one run on three hits with one strikeout, freshman Skyler Pichardo didn't record an out and gave up one run on no hits with a walk, freshman Connor McNamara pitched one third of an inning and gave up no runs on one hit and junior Mike Coss threw one inning and gave up one run on one hit with two walks. Senior Ryan Thomas made his 87th career appearance for Marist which breaks the program's all-time career appearance record, passing Jake Rifkin (2009-12). Thomas pitched two thirds of an inning and gave up no runs on one hit and junior Tony Romanelli threw an inning and surrendered no runs on one hit with a walk and one strikeout.
The Black Knights struck first in the bottom of the second when Trey Martin doubled to left field with one out. David Monge followed with a fly out to right that advanced Martin to third and Josh White reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that allowed Martin to score and give Army West Point the 1-0 lead.
Three innings later, the Black Knights extended their lead on a Jon Rosoff leadoff single before Kris Linder advanced him to second on a sac bunt. Jo McCarthy followed with a ground out to the pitcher that advanced Rosoff to third and Matt Hudgins knocked home Rosoff with an RBI single to left for the 2-0 lead.
The Red Foxes trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the fifth. Taveras was hit by a pitch with one out, Pagano walked and Taveras advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher and Lazar followed with an RBI sac bunt, scoring Taveras.
In the bottom of the inning, Army regained the two run lead when Pichardo replaced Phillips on the hill Martin walked, McNamara came in for Pichardo on the mound and Josh White hit a chopper over the head and off the outstretched glove of the first baseman for a double that set up men on second and third with one out. Coss replaced McNamara, and Jacob Hurtubise hit and RBI ground out to second that scored Martin for the 3-1 lead.
One inning later, the Black Knights made it 4-1 lead on a McCarthy leadoff walk. Two batters later he advanced to second on a wild pitch and Dickerson followed with an RBI single that scored McCarthy.
Down to their last at bat in the top of the ninth, Marist made a little noise as Lazar led off with a single and Tracz followed with a hit by pitch. However, the next batter flew out to right field and the following hit into a game ending double play to give Army the 4-1 win.
Up next, Marist returns to MAAC play as they travel to Jersey City, NJ for a nine and seven inning doubleheader against the Saint Peter's Peacocks on Saturday (12 PM) and a nine inning game on Sunday (12 PM).
