GAINESVILLE, Florida – Despite being down just one run in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs, the Marist baseball team fell to the Florida Gators 10-6 in their opening game of the 2017 NCAA Gainesville Regional on Friday evening at McKethan Stadium at Perry Field.
In front of 2,390 people, the Red Foxes out hit the Gators 12-8 and stayed in the game despite being down four and three runs at two different points of the game. The team's six runs scored were the most allowed by Florida in an NCAA Regional game since 2009.
Sophomore Randy Taveras led Marist offensively with two hits and two RBI and redshirt senior Matt Pagano had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Anthony Lazar and senior Tyler Kirkpatrick each finished with two hits and two runs scored and redshirt junior Tyler Kapuscinski finished with two hits and one run scored. Junior Matt Iantosca picked up a hit and sophomore Frankie Gregoire had an RBI.
Senior Sean Keenan got the start and the loss, pitching four and one third innings while giving up seven runs (five earned) on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Senior John Paris threw two thirds of an inning and gave up no runs on no hits with a walk, junior Tony Romanelli pitched two and two thirds innings, surrendering two runs on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts and redshirt junior Scott Boches threw one third of an inning and gave up one run on one hit with one walk.
The Red Foxes opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when Kapuscinski led off with an infield single and then advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman. Iantosca followed with a single to right field to set up men on first and third before Pagano laced a single into center field, scoring Kapuscinski for the 1-0 lead.
The Gators answered in the bottom of the inning with the first three batters reaching on a walk, a fielding error on the shortstop and a bunt single to load the bases. The next batter smacked a two RBI single up the middle, before a sac bunt set up men on second and third with one out. An RBI single by the following batter and an RBI sac fly platted two more runs and Florida held a 4-1 lead.
For the second straight inning, the Gators plated a run in the bottom of the third on three straight walks and an RBI sac fly.
Two innings later, Marist trimmed the deficit to one at 5-4 when Pagano singled to the shortstop and Lazar singled through the left side. Kirkpatrick followed with a fielder's choice grounder up the middle and the shortstop tried to tag out Lazar at second but the ball got away, allowing Pagano to score from third. Taveras followed with a bloop back to the pitcher who threw the ball away to allow Lazar and Kirkpatrick to score and make it a one run game.
For the second time in the game, Florida answered in the bottom of the inning with the leadoff hitter reaching on a hit by pitch. During the next at bat, Keenan caught the runner leaning off first and threw over to set up a rundown but a throwing error by the shortstop allowed the runner to reach third, before an RBI sac fly regained the two run lead at 6-4.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Gators extended its lead on a leadoff single before Parisi replaced Keenan on the mound. During the next at bat, three wild pitches allowed the runner to advance to second, third and score for the 7-4 lead.
In what has been their most successful inning so far this season, the Red Foxes trimmed the deficit to 7-6 in the sixth inning when Lazar singled to center with one out, Kirkpatrick doubled down the right field line and Taveras smacked a two RBI single to center to bring Marist within a run.
In the bottom of the eighth, Florida added to its lead. A one out single and walk ended Romanelli's night. Boches replaced Romanelli and his first batter hit a three run homer to left center for the 10-6 lead.
Down to their last at bat, the Red Foxes got a one out single by Kocinski but the Gators slammed the door shut with a game ending double play to secure the 10-6 win.
Up next, Marist will play the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in an elimination game at McKethan Stadium with first pitch at 12 PM.
