BUFFALO, New York – The fifth-seeded Marist baseball team is headed to a decisive game three with fourth-seeded Canisius in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Quarterfinal Round.
On Thursday at the Demske Sports Complex, the Red Foxes and Golden Griffins split a doubleheader. Canisius pulled away for an 8-3 lead in game one, but Marist rebounded from an early four-run deficit for a 12-6 triumph in game.
The winner-take-all game three takes place on Friday.
Canisius 8, Marist 3 – W: Kyle Warner (4-2), L: Ryan Cardona (1-3)
- Robbie Armitage's two-out, two-run double on an eight-pitch at bat brought home Tyler Kapuscinski and Brian Picone, and gave the Red Foxes a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
- Carlin Dick's leadoff homer cut Marist's lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first. Canisius then loaded the bases with two outs in the first, but Ryan Cardona got the Red Foxes out of the jam with a strikeout.
- In the bottom of the third, the Red Foxes received great defensive plays by shortstop Dylan Hoy (on a looping liner) and right fielder Matt Rubayo (diving catch on a deep drive).
- In the top of the fourth, Kapuscinski's sacrifice fly brought home Gene Napolitano and extended Marist's lead to 3-1.
- Canisius struck for three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jacob Victor's two-run single gave the Golden Griffins their first lead of the day at 4-3.
- Canisius loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but Skyler Pichardo induced a comebacker to keep the Golden Griffins off the scoreboard.
- Jake Burlingame's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh extended Canisius' lead to 5-3.
- Marist had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the eighth, but Canisius reliever Kyle Warner preserved the lead with back-to-back strikeouts.
- Canisius added three runs in the eighth. Jacob Martins had a two-run single in the inning.
- Armitage, Kapuscinski, and Hoy had two hits apiece for the Red Foxes, who finished the game with 10.
- Cardona went the first 3.1 for the Red Foxes. Pichardo pitched four innings of relief, and Zane Kmietek recorded the final two outs in the eighth.
- Dick paced Canisius' 12-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with a single, double, homer, walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
- Warner pitched the final 5.2 innings to earn the win. He struck out seven and retired the first 12 Red Foxes he faced.
Marist 12, Canisius 6 – W: Alex Pansini (2-4), L: Andrew Fron (1-2), SV: Erubiel Candelario (1)
- Canisius scored four runs on two hits in the first. The Golden Griffins' runs came in on an error, a bases-loaded walk, and two groundouts. Two of the runs were unearned.
- Marist responded with a six-run third. Niko Amory's RBI double brought home Ben McNeill. Amory scored on a single by Brian Hart. Matt Rubayo's two-run single tied the game as Brian Picone and Robbie Armitage came in. Colin's Mackle's single plated Hart, and gave Marist the lead. Dylan Hoy then brought home Rubayo with a base hit. Seven straight Red Foxes reached safely in the inning.
- In the top of the fourth, Amory scooted home on a wild pitch and gave Marist a 7-4 lead.
- Canisius loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Pansini induced a 6-3 double play started by Hoy, and the Red Foxes escaped the inning unscathed.
- In the top of the fifth, two-run homers by Hoy and Amory staked the Red Foxes to an 11-4 advantage. Vinny Chiarenza's two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning made the score 11-6.
- Colin Mackle hit a solo home run to lead off the ninth, which extended Marist's lead to 12-6.
- Amory, Rubayo, and Hoy had three hits apiece as the Red Foxes pounded out 16. Amory scored three runs and also drove in three. Hoy had three RBIs.
- Alex Pansini started and went the first 5.1 for the Red Foxes. Erubiel Candelario went the final 3.2 scoreless with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
- Chiarenza drove in three runs for the Golden Griffins.
- Hoy's home run in game two was the first of his collegiate career. His three RBIs in game two were a career high. With hits in both games, he extended his hitting streak to nine.
- Amory's three runs scored in game two were a career high. His three hits and three RBIs are both season highs that tied career highs set in 2019.
- Mackle's home run was the first of his collegiate career.
- Rubayo's three-hit performance in game two was his third of the season.
- Candelario's save was the first of his collegiate career.
- Marist has now scored at least 10 runs in a game in nine of their 28 contests this season. The Red Foxes are 9-0 in these games.
- Marist is now 18-10 on the season.
- Canisius stands at 18-14.
- Marist and Canisius will play a winner-take-all game three in the quarterfinal round on Friday.
- First pitch is set for noon. The game will be carried live on ESPN+.
- The winner will advance to the MAAC Championship Round, which will start on Wednesday, May 26.
