On a sunny Tuesday afternoon in Poughkeepsie, Marist baseball returned home to McCann Field for a non-conference game, an 11-9 loss against the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
In a nearly four-hour affair, the midweek matchup featured high-powered offenses and defensive miscues. Despite late eighth-inning efforts for Marist, they were unable to come up with the victory. Both teams opted for a bullpen game, combining a total of 15 pitchers used, 23 hits and 20 runs between the two ball clubs.
“We’re using the midweeks for the guys to audition for innings on the weekend,” said head coach Lance Ratchford. “These midweeks are always kind of a staff day where we’re kind of giving guys opportunities.”
The NJIT Highlanders entered with an overall record of 8-14, after taking one of three against Bryant last weekend, tied for last place in the American East Conference and ranked fourth in ERA (5.82).
Marist went to work against NJIT’s senior right-handed pitcher, Talon Mihalinac, at the bottom of the first. After missing the weekend series against Siena due to illness, senior infielder Kyle Pollack wasted no time tallying runs for Marist as his stand-up double drove in their second run of the inning.
“He’s major. Even this weekend, the lineup is so potent, even without him. We add him in there, I mean, we’re so scary with him,” said Ratchford.
A loud homerun off the bat of TJ Baer extended the Red Fox lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second. It stayed scoreless into the top of the third, where NJIT got a run back after a defensive miscue from senior infielder AJ Brotz allowed an unearned run to score.
In the top of the fifth, the Highlanders found themselves in another position to score. A lead-off walk, followed by a single to center field, set them up with runners on the corners and no one out. A loud double to left field by redshirt-senior infielder Ty Sallie drove in two runs for NJIT.
Marist called upon junior left-handed pitcher Andrew Speranza to try to escape the fifth. Entering with a runner on second and no one out, Speranza issued a walk to the first batter he faced. A wild pitch, followed by a chopper to first that took a bad hop over the first baseman’s head, tied the score.
Speranza stayed in the top of the sixth and found himself with more traffic on the bases. Back-to-back hits from the Highlanders once again put runners in scoring position with no one out. In what looked like a repeat of the fifth inning, Sallie doubled once again, plating two more runs. NJIT’s eighth run came around to score after redshirt-junior outfield Dylan Millman dropped a fly ball.
After both sides scored once in the seventh, the Red Foxes threatened again in the bottom of the eighth, and this time they took full advantage. Brotz opened the inning by winning a twelve-pitch at-bat, before a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, bringing Marist’s hottest hitters to the plate. Pollack continued his big return with an explosive three-run homer over the left-field wall to bring Marist within two runs.
The score stayed at 11-9 after a scoreless top half of the ninth, but back-to-back fly balls to center field resulted in two quick outs for NJIT. Down to their last out, Rivera singled to right field, keeping the offense alive. Rivera was gunned down trying to steal second base, ending the game, resulting in an 11-9 Marist loss.
“Definitely miscommunication. We weren’t planning on sending him,” said Ratchford.
The Red Foxes will battle for first place in the MAAC against Rider University this weekend at Sonny Pittaro Field in Lawrenceville, N.J. Game one begins Thursday at 3 p.m.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Photo by Marist Athletics
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