TAMPA, Florida – Marist baseball lost the season series to South Florida after falling in the rubber match by a score of 4-2. The Red Foxes rebounded from a tough fifth inning, but ultimately could not complete the comeback.
Freshman starter
Jack Keenan had a strong collegiate debut on the rubber, throwing 4.1 innings with just one unearned run. Three Marist players recorded hits on the offensive end.
- After four blank innings, the Red Foxes had an opportunity in the fifth when Brian Hart advanced all the way to third with just one out. However, the Bulls completed a double play and prevented the sophomore from reaching home.
- South Florida took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. The Red Foxes had two early outs, but could not convert the third until after the Bulls scored four unearned runs.
- In the sixth, Dylan Hoy hit a ground-rule double, advanced to third on the next out and was then driven in by Reece Armitage on a sacrifice-fly to put Marist on the board.
- Marist added another run in the eighth, when Gene Napolitano singled to left field to score Matt Rubayo. The bases were loaded, but unfortunately the three Red Fox runners were left stranded with the deficit cut to 4-2.
- Marist was unable to trim the lead any more in the ninth and South Florida took home the win.
- In his game as a Red Fox, Jack Keenan threw for 4.1 innings with two strikeouts, no hits and one unearned run.
- Gene Napolitano recorded a hit and an RBI, while Matt Rubayo and Dylan Hoy each tallied a double and a run scored.
- Marist had seven runners in scoring position compared to South Florida with six.
- No Red Fox pitchers allowed an extra base hit in the series finale.
Marist travels to George Washington for a weekend series on February 21-23. The first game begins on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
