JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee - Marist baseball led at East Tennessee State until the bottom of the sixth, when Cade Gilbert homered to give the Bucs their 2-1 lead. The Red Foxes scored in the fourth behind the efforts of a lead-off double from Tyler Kapuscinski and an RBI-single by Niko Amory.

Kapuscinski (2-for-4) led the offense as four Red Foxes tallied hits. Ryan Cardona was assessed the loss despite tossing a quality 6.2 innings with six strikeouts and four hits.
 

SUMMARY

• Ryan Cardona scattered hits in the first five innings, and went 1-2-3 in the first and fourth to give Marist a chance for the lead.
• In the fourth, Tyler Kapuscinski led off with a double to left center field. He advanced to third on a groundout, and then was batted home on a single from Niko Amory to put the Red Foxes ahead.
• The Bucs hit a two-run homer in the sixth to gain the 2-1 advantage that would hold out for the rest of the game. 
• Marist put men on base in the seventh and eighth innings, but they could not score the tying run to extend the game.

STATS

• Tyler Kapuscinski went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored to pace the hitters.
• Ryan Cardona punched out six in 6.2 innings with four hits and two runs. He only walked one Buc throughout the game.
• Skyler Pichardo took over in the bottom of the seventh and struck out all four batters he faced.
• ETSU starter Z. Kirby picked up the win, allowing four hits and one run across six innings. He only struck out two Red Foxes while giving up a pair of doubles.

UP NEXT

Marist travels even farther south to play florida Gulf Coast in a series on March 13-15. Game on begins Friday at 6:30 p.m.