POUGHKEEPSIE, New York - Marist baseball (26-23, 14-8 MAAC) started off their final series of the regular season with a bang, defeating Siena (17-32, 11-11 MAAC) by a score of 15-2. Tony Romanelli made a statement with five consecutive strikeouts to begin the game, while the offense tallied 18 hits to pull ahead for the win.
 

SUMMARY

• Tyler Kapuscinski hit an RBI-double in the first inning to get the ball rolling. Anthony Lazar scored his first run of the day.
• Robbie Armitage followed him up with an RBI-single to center field to drive home Frankie Gregoire.
• The Saints walked in a run in the third to cut the Marist lead to 2-1.
• Lazar hit a sacrifice-fly in the fourth to add another run as Reece Armitage reached home.
• Matt Rubayo stole home later in the inning to score for the Red Foxes.
• The Saints recorded a sacrifice-fly of their own in the top of the sixth to put the score at 4-2.
• Marist ran away in the bottom of the inning, batting around to score seven runs. Reece Armitage blasted a solo homer past right field to highlight the inning.
• Gregoire smacked a two-RBI single up the middle, and Robbie Armitage followed him up with a huge 2-RBI triple. Armitage's hit was just inches away from leaving the field.
• Lazar tallied yet another RBI-single in the seventh to drive in Niko Amory.
• Alex Marinelli was walked with loaded bases in the eighth to earn his first-career RBI. Robbie Armitage was driven home.
• Patrick Lightner reached home on a wild pitch moments later, adding another run.
• Randy Taveras singled through the left side to drive in Brian Hart and increase Marist's lead to 15-2. The Red Foxes proceeded to take the win with a strong ninth inning.

KEY STATS

• Tony Romanelli earned the win, tossing 5.1 innings with nine strikeouts. He punched out the first five batters of the game. Romanelli allowed just four hits and two runs.
• Nick Cantone recorded his first career save with a career-high 3.2 shutout innings on the mound. He fanned four while scattering two hits.
• Anthony Lazar went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs scored.
• Robbie Armitage was strong as well, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a triple and two runs scored.
• Niko Amory followed them up with three hits in four at-bats, a double and two runs.
• Tyler Kapuscinski was another efficient Red Fox, going 3-for-5 with an RBI, a double and a run.
• Reece Armitage's homer was his third of the season.
• Nine Marist players recorded at least one hit.
• 18 hits is the second most the Red Foxes tallied in a single game this season, just behind the 19 from Presbyterian on Feb. 23.

UP NEXT

The Saints and Red Foxes return tomorrow for the series-deciding doubleheader. Marist clinched a spot in the MAAC Championships this afternoon, and can land anywhere between the third and fifth seed based on tomorrow's results.