POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist baseball team climbed over .500 (16-14) for the first time this season, won its sixth and seventh consecutive games and improved to 9-1 at McCann Field with 2-1 (8 Inn) and 6-2 wins vs the Binghamton Bearcats in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday.

The victory in Game 1 was the Red Foxes second straight walk off victory, third in the last five games and their fourth overall this season. Marist has now gone 15-4 in its last 19 games since opening the season 1-10 overall.

SUMMARY GAME 1:

The Bearcats opened the scoring in the top of the first with a one out single and an RBI single that scored the runner from second after he advanced on a ground out for the 1-0 lead.

The Red Foxes answered and tied the game in the bottom of the second inning when junior Frankie Gregoire singled to center with one out. Redshirt junior Chris Tracz followed with a double to left to set up men on second and third and redshirt junior Jordan Roper knocked home Gregoire with an RBI ground out to bring the score to 1-1.

Binghamton had the go ahead run on third with two outs in the top of the seventh and second with two outs in the top of the eighth but sophomore Skyler Pichardo escaped both jams with a strikeout swinging and a fielder's choice respectively.

Marist came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth looking to secure the win. Senior Matt Iantosca singled with two outs and Roper followed with a double down the left field line. After junior Randy Taveras pinch hit and was intentionally walked to load the bases, sophomore Patrick Lightner laced an RBI single down the left field line, giving the Red Foxes the 2-1 walk off win.

KEY STATS:

• Marist outhit the Bearcats 9-6
• The Red Foxes left 8 men on base, while Binghamton left 7

SUMMARY GAME 2:

Marist took the early lead in the bottom of the first when Taveras led off with a single and senior Andrew Rouse followed with a double to left center to set up men on second and third with no outs. Redshirt senior Greg Kocinski walked to load the bases and two batters later, Gregoire laced a two RBI double to left center that scored Taveras and Rouse to give the Red Foxes the 2-0 advantage.

The Bearcats answered in the top of the fourth with a one out single and two batters later, reaching on a fielding error by the shortstop. The next batter smacked a two RBI double to left that scored both runs and tied the score at 2-2.

One and a half innings later, Marist regained the lead when Taveras led off with a walk. Two batters later during the at bat, he stole second and after a ground out, redshirt sophomore Tyler Kapuscinski pinged an RBI single to center that scored Taveras. Gregoire and Roper followed with walks to load the bases and sophomore Matt Rubayo followed with a deep fly ball to right that was dropped an allowed all three runs to score and gave the
Red Foxes a 6-2 advantage.

In the top of the sixth, Binghamton loaded the bases with no outs on three straight singles. However, redshirt senior Tyler Dearden escaped the jam unscathed with a strikeout looking and a 6-4-3 double play.

In the top of the seventh, the Bearcats got the first two batters on base with a walk and single but freshman Nick Cantone retired the next three batters with a strikeout looking, a strikeout swinging and a foul out to the third baseman to secure the 6-2 win.

KEY STATS:

• Binghamton outhit Marist 8-5
• The Bearcats committed 3 errors and allowed 3 unearned runs, while the Red Foxes made 2 errors and allowed 2 unearned runs
• Binghamton stranded 12 runners on base, while Marist left 7 men on

GAME NOTES:

• Rouse's hit in each game extended his hit streak to 8 games
• Kapuscinski's hit in each game extended his hit streak to 9 games and his RBI in Game 2 gives him at least one RBI in 5 of his last 6 games
• Gregoire's hit in each game extended his hit streak to 5 games and his 2 RBI in Game 2 gives him 7 RBI in his last 5 games
• Freshman Alex Pansini threw a career high 4 innings and struck out a career high 3 batters
• Freshman Trevor Backman struck out a career high 4 hitters in his start in Game 2
• Sophomore Will Van Beusekom struck out a career high 5 batters, tied a career high with 2 innings pitched and threw his 4^th consecutive scoreless outing

UP NEXT:

The Red Foxes will head south to New Rochelle, NY for a MAAC series at the Iona Gaels with a nine and seven inning DH on Sat (Noon) and a single nine inning games on Sunday (Noon).