Marist Baseball Drops Two vs CCSU & Navy

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Despite great pitching by Sean Keenan and Scott Boches to start each game, the Marist baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Navy to Central Connecticut State and Navy by final scores of 3-2 on Saturday.

With the losses, the Red Foxes stand at 6-6 on the season and suffer their first weekend loss of the year.

In Game 1, sophomore Randy Taveras led Marist offensively, going 3-for-5 with a 2B, while junior Matt Iantosca chipped in a 1-for-4 effort with a 2B and RBI, and sophomore Tyler Kapuscinski and junior Andrew Rouse each picked up one hit.

Sean Keenan got the start and threw seven innings while giving up five hits to go along with two walks and nine strikeouts. Mike Coss pitched one inning and gave up no runs on no hits with two strikeouts, while Tony Romanelli got a blown save and the loss, throwing two innings while giving up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

In Game 2, Matt Pagano led the Red Foxes going 3-for-4, while Chris Tracz went 1-for-4 with a home run, one run scored and one RBI, junior Greg Kocinski went 1-for-4 with one RBI and Tyler Kapuscinski picked up a hit in the game.

On the mound, Scott Boches got the start and no decision, pitching seven innings while giving up two runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. John Parisi got the loss, throwing one and two thirds innings, surrendering one run on two hits.

VS. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT:

In the earliest start for the Red Foxes in 2017, it was the Blue Devils that got on the board first in the opening inning. Franklin Jennings led off with a single and three batters later, Ryan Costello tripled to right field, scoring Jennings and it was 1-0 CCSU.

Neither team scored for the next five innings until the Red Foxes answered in the bottom of the sixth when Taveras singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Pagano walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch that allowed Taveras to score and the game was tied 1-1. After Pagano advanced to third on a ground out, Iantosca doubled to center field, scoring Pagano and Marist held its first lead of the day at 2-1.

Coss replaced Keenan in the top of the eighth and Marist held the lead until the bottom of the ninth inning. Romanelli replaced Coss and Chris Kanios pinch hit for the Blue Devils and led off with a triple to right field. Following a ground out, Nick Landell singled on a bunt to first base, scoring Kanios and the game was tied 1-1.

After a 1-2-3 Red Fox top of the 10th inning, CCSU led off the bottom of the 10th with back-to-back-to-back singles by Tyler Coleman, Dean Lockery and Costello to load the bases. Buddy Dewaine followed with an RBI ground out and the Blue Devils held the 3-2 lead.
Marist came to bat in the bottom of the 10th but were unable to generate the tying run and CCSU emerged victorious 3-2.

VS. NAVY

Following the tough extra innings loss to the Blue Devils, the Red Foxes looked to bounce back against the Midshipmen.

Marist got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth when Kapuscinski led off with a single through the right side. Gregoire walked and Kocinski followed with an RBI single, scoring Kapuscinski and the Red Foxes were ahead 1-0.

Navy answered in the bottom of the fifth inning when Zach Biggers led off with a single to shortstop. Two batters later, Logan Knowles singled to shortstop to set up men on first and second and Travis Blue walked to load the bases. Stephen Born followed with a bases loaded walk, scoring Biggers and the game was tied 1-1. Leland Saile followed with an RBI groundout and the Midshipmen held a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning, Tracz led off with a solo home run to right field, the first of his career and the game was tied again at 2-2.

Parisi replaced Boches in the eighth inning and the game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning. Jacob Williamson led off with a single for Navy and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Biggers. Liam Lowery pinch hit and followed with a hit by pitch to set up men on first and second and Matthew Wilcox pinch ran for Lowery. Knowles followed with a fielder’s choice that got Wilcox out at second and advanced Williamson to third. Blue then followed with a single through the left side that scored Williamson and the Midshipmen walked off with the 3-2 win.