POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Behind a solo home run by junior Anthony Lazar, a two run shot by redshirt sophomore Tyler Kapuscinski and a game winning three run homer by redshirt senior Greg Kocinski, the Marist baseball team erased a 7-2 deficit and picked up a 9-7 comeback win vs the Niagara Purple Eagles in Game 1 of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series at McCann Field.

With the victory, the Red Foxes have won three straight games and 11 of their last 15 and now stand at 12-14 (4-3 MAAC) on the season. The three home runs also marked the most in a single game by the team since at least 2012. 

SUMMARY:

Niagara jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with a leadoff walk, followed by a bunt single to first. Two batters later, a fielder's choice advanced the runner from second to third and during the net at bat, the runner from third scored on a throw to second when the runner from first stole second and the Purple Eagles were up 1-0.

One inning later, Niagara extended their lead with a one out walk, that was followed by a single through the right side and a sac bunt then moved the runners to second and third. A fielding error by the third baseman allowed the batter to reach and the run from third to score, before the inning's second fielding error, this time by the center fielder, allowed the batter to reach and brought home two more runs. An RBI single by the next batter scored the inning's fourth run and the Purple Eagles held a 5-0 advantage.

Marist answered in the bottom of the fourth with its first hits of the game, when Kapuscinski walked with two outs and junior Frankie Gregoire followed with an RBI double down the left field line that scored Kapuscinski from first. Junior Randy Taveras followed with an RBI single through the right side that score Gregoire and the deficit was trimmed to 5-2 in favor of Niagara.

In their next at, the Purple Eagles regained the five run lead with a double and two run home run to right field that gave them the 7-2 lead.

However, the Red Foxes answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Lazar smacked a solo home run to left center and Senior Andrew Rouse followed with a hit by pitch. Kocinski ripped an RBI double to right center and Kapuscinski followed with a two run home run to right to bring the score to 7-6 Niagara.

Senior Tony Romanelli made the start and shut down Purple Eagle chances to extend their lead in the top of the sixth and seventh innings to keep it a one run game at 7-6 in favor of Niagara. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Lazar and Rouse picked up back-to-back two out singles, before Kocinski smashed a go ahead three run home run to right center to give Marist its first lead of the game at 9-7.

The Purple Eagles looked to answer with a two out rally in the top of the eighth, putting the tying runs on base with a hit by pitch and walk and had a 3-0 count on the next batter. However, the Red Foxes escaped the inning with the lead intact after senior Mike Coss entered the game and induced a weak pop out to first to end the threat.

After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, Coss then threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth to seal the 9-7 victory.

KEY STATS:

• Marist scored 9 runs on 9 hits, while Niagara finished with 7 runs on 7 hits
• The Purple Eagles scored four unearned runs on three errors by the Red Foxes
• Niagara stranded 10 runners on base, while Marist left only 3 men on in the game

GAME NOTES:

• Lazar's 2 hits marked his 10^th multi-hit game in 17 games played this season and his home run was his second this season and sixth of his career
• Rouse extended his hit streak to four games with a single in the 7^th inning
• Kocinski's home run was his 3^rd in his last 4 games and his 6^th this season, the most in a single season in his career. His two hits marked his 10^th multi-hit game this year and his 4 RBI were a season high
• Kapuscinski's home run extended his hitting streak to 5 games, gave him at least 1 hit in 11 of his 12 games played this year and was his second career homer and first since 3/16/17 at VCU
• Gregoire's 2 hits marked his 6^th multi-hit game this season
• Romanelli tied a season high with 7 innings pitched and marked his third straight start with 5 strikeouts
• Coss picked up his second straight scoreless outing and his 10^th of the season

QUOTE:

"It's a big win" said head coach Chris Tracz. "To come out the way that we did and not have a really good first couple innings. To spot them five and then we got a couple runs but gave them right back, I think it's one of those things that shows who we are as a team, we're pretty resilient."

UP NEXT:

The Red Foxes and Purple Eagles will play a seven and nine inning doubleheader to finish out the series on Saturday (Noon) at McCann Field.