The Red Foxes broke Fairfield’s streak of 26 consecutive conference series victories behind an offensive explosion of 21 runs and a game one walk-off from junior infielder/outfielder AJ Brotz, despite a Senior Day defeat. Marist took two of three from Fairfield for the first time since April 10, 2022.
The Red Foxes (19-23, 11-11 MAAC) almost knocked the Stags (34-13, 19-5 MAAC) out of first place behind Rider, who swept Marist just last weekend.
Originally, the weekend series was scheduled for a traditional Friday-Saturday-Sunday set, but due to impending rain, the MAAC rivals squared off for a Friday afternoon doubleheader and Saturday morning contest.
The Red Foxes narrowly escaped with a game one victory after a near implosion from the bullpen, winning 8-7 in walk off fashion.
The forecasted rain did not stop the Red Fox offense, who got to work quickly courtesy of small-ball. For the 19th time this season and 11th in conference play, Marist scored in the first frame, thanks in part to their leadoff hitter—freshman infielder Noel Rivera and his .306 season batting average.
“We rely on our speed, and we have guys that can handle the bat, whether it’s a hit and run, whether it’s a safety squeeze, whether it’s a bunt for a hit,” said head coach Lance Ratchford. “We have guys that can do dynamic things, and when we’re rolling on all cylinders, [small ball’s] part of what we do.”
Rivera stole second after reaching first on a hit-by-pitch. Brotz advanced him on a groundout, and redshirt freshman outfielder Chris Diaz drove him home with a two-out base knock. The Pomona native finished with three of his season’s 15 RBIs over the doubleheader.
Redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Will Taylor cruised his way through the first five innings, going perfect the first time around the order. He fanned six over the frames, including five looking.
“[It was] probably one of his best outings. [He] struck out a lot of guys too, threw a lot of strikes [and] was able to get us to the sixth,” said Ratchford. “We wish we could have got him through there, but [he] gave probably one of his best starts of the year.”
Finishing with 94 pitches, Taylor got tired in the sixth after back-to-back base hits from senior infielder Dean Ferrara and junior infielder Luke Nomura, and a sac fly from junior outfielder Matthew Bucciero. Bucciero heads back to Connecticut with five runs added to his season totals.
Though a wild pitch and back-to-back walks forced Taylor out of the game, redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher Ethan Marzo did his job by striking out junior outfielder TJ Schmalzle to strand the runner. Taylor surrendered just one earned run on three hits, with seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Marist’s offense exploded in the seventh with a five-spot off of RBI singles from sophomore outfielder Lewis Rodriguez and graduate outfielder Jason Claiborn, an RBI double from Diaz and a 2-RBI triple from Brotz. Brotz finished two-for-five with a run scored and three RBIs.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ben Alekson gave the Stags seven innings on just 85 pitches, but he yielded seven earned runs on eight hits and three free passes.
Nomura quickly ended a conformable seven-run Marist lead with a two-run shot to end Marzo’s day. Schmalzle and junior catcher JP Kuczik cut the lead to two with RBIs of their own. In the ninth, Bucciero knotted the score with a game-tying two-run homer off junior right-handed pitcher Caleb Kempler.
However, Kempler earned the win after small-ball struck again in the home ninth. Rodriguez led off the frame with a walk then advanced on a bunt single from Rivera. Claiborn followed with a bunt single of his own, and Brotz was the hero with a walk off RBI single to win it for Marist.
“They’ve been able to win [and] beat everybody within the conference, so it was major. Brats really set the tone for the day [and] let us roll into game two after that walkoff in game one,” said Ratchford.
In game two, the offense picked up right where it left off with four runs in the first two innings en route to a slugfest 10-7 victory to sweep the doubleheader. Despite a conference-low 19 homers from the Red Foxes entering the series, game two started with a leadoff homer from Rivera.
“I feel like when we throw the first punch, we’re difficult to beat,” said Ratchford.
In the second inning, Rodriguez followed with an RBI walk, and Claiborn added a 2-RBI single to his day. Claiborn enjoyed a five-for-12 series with four runs scored and five RBIs to further his team-leading batting average and RBI count.
Senior right-handed pitcher Chris Ubner worked three solid frames before Kuczik launched a three-run homer and Ferrara added his 50th RBI of the year, good for third in the conference.
Both starting pitchers struggled in the back end of the doubleheader. Ubner surrendered four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings with two walks. Graduate left-handed pitcher Bowen Baker fared worse, yielding five earned runs on three hits and four walks over three innings.
Three plays after the game-tying RBI, Rodriguez regained the lead for Marist with a solo shot to lead off the fourth. Fairfield never led in the doubleheader.
“I think that we have really tough guys, really gritty guys. When they’re in your face and they’re the aggressor, that’s when they’re super special. I think we were that all day,” said Ratchford.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Andrew Speranza followed his three-inning hitless outing in Albany with another solid performance where he simply did his job. The Poughkeepsie native fired 2.2 innings of one unearned run en route to his second win of the season.
Though the Red Foxes tacked on two more in the sixth inning with an RBI double from Diaz and RBI single from graduate infielder Zach Donahue, the game became interesting before the stretch.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Logan Scholl allowed the inherited runner to cross the plate and surrendered a sac fly from senior catcher Tyler Kipp to make it a one-run game.
However, the Marist bats rose once again in the bottom of the inning with three runs on three consecutive plays. Claiborn added another RBI single, later scoring on an error at the mound, and the Red Foxes added their 10th run via an RBI groundout from Brotz.
“Offensively, we were just kind of spinning some tires, almost like we shot our bullets the day before,” said Ratchford.
However, Marist could not finish the sweep after the Stags spoiled Senior Day, 9-3.
Seeking revenge in the final game, Kuczik doubled home three after redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler Hartley issued two walks with a base hit with two away. The Stags continued the first inning damage on the next at-bat after Brotz could not come up with a sliding stop cleanly, allowing Kuczik to score on the hit.
After their red-hot start to the series, Marist’s bats came out slow, backed by stellar defense from the Stags—highlighted by a beautiful backhanded play from freshman infielder Nolan Colby in the second and a catch against the fence from graduate first baseman Sean Meth in the third.
Bucciero added his fourth RBI of the series in the second, senior infielder Nick Sturino drove home the sixth run for the Stags on a sac bunt and Kuczik scored on a wild pitch. Hartley lasted 2+ innings, surrendering seven earned runs on six hits and three walks.
The Marist bullpen stood tall by allowing just two runs over seven innings of relief: Junior right-handed pitcher Jake Burt, senior left-handed pitcher John Hacker, senior right-handed pitcher Ty Morris, redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Bobby Leferve and redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan VanDeWater kept the Red Foxes within reach.
“[The bullpen] really did keep us in it, especially the older guys, being senior day,” said Ratchford.
However, graduate right-handed pitcher Kyle Lesler dominated to maintain a comfortable Stags lead. He fired six innings of two run ball on just 75 pitches.
Though Brotz came just a few feet away from putting the game within two in the home seventh, the Stags quieted Marist’s offense. Fairfield avoided the sweep amid downpour and lightning concerns in the ninth, forcing the game to end two outs early.
The Red Foxes will look to return to over .500 in conference play after a midweek bid in Binghamton with the non-conference Bearcats. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM on Tuesday night.
Edited by August Lieberman
Graphic by Nathaniel Babcock
Photo Credit: Caitlin Bombassei
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