The Marist Red Foxes fell to the Broncs in a three-game series this past weekend at Sonny Pitaro Field in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Some people would consider it a comeback season, others perhaps a learning curve. But for a second-place Rex Foxes against a top-seeded Rider, it was a bit of both.
After a home opening loss against New Jersey Institute of Technology on March 31st, the Red Foxes were looking to get back on track as they headed to face Rider for a conference matchup.
Game one featured Marist redshirt junior left-hander Will Taylor and Rider senior pitcher PJ Craig facing off on the mound. Marist lost 9-2 for the Red Foxes’ second loss in a row.
Taylor tossed five innings while giving up three earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Rider struck first off an RBI single from junior catcher Nick Shuhet, while Marist went on a long five-inning score drought.
Taylor gave up his final two runs of the night in the fifth inning before getting pulled after a two-run home run to left field off the bat of two-way senior Will Gallagher. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Fierro replaced Taylor. Fierro then left the game in the eighth after giving up six runs.
The Red Foxes scored one more run in the ninth inning after walking in graduate student outfielder Nathan Lincoln from third. Craig led Rider to a 9-2 win in the first game of the series, as the Red Foxes went 4-for-31 at the plate.
In game two, Marist head coach Lance Ratchford gave the nod to right-handed redshirt sophomore Tyler Hartley while Rider head coach Lee Lipinski looked to right-handed sophomore pitcher Kyle Batt.
After Rider struck first on a fielder’s choice RBI, Hertley settled in, pitching five innings with four scoreless. His team added insurance runs in the fourth thanks to two RBIs and a sacrifice bunt by redshirt freshman Michael Mayhugh.
The Red Foxes later score five more runs, with four RBIs supported by a triple from senior infielder AJ Brotz. Despite being outhit, the Red Foxes came through when it truly mattered to pull off an 8-3 win.
Game three saw the first MAAC series loss of the season for the Red Foxes, despite a leadoff home run from freshman outfielder, TJ Baer.
Striking in the first inning and their only runs of the contest, Marist scored three runs with Baer’s homer, an RBI single from senior first baseman Kyle Pollack and an RBI single from redshirt sophomore catcher Scott Esposito.
Rider senior left-handed pitcher Christian Aiello lasted 6.2 innings after senior starter Clayton Poliey was pulled with one out recorded. The early offensive showcase from the Foxes did not carry over.
An eight-run seventh inning sealed the deal for the Foxes, as pitchers junior Bobby LeFevre, freshman Aiden Vargas and senior Caleb Kempler negatively contributed to the runs in the seventh inning.
Marist will return home to McCann Baseball Field this weekend to face off against Quinnipiac in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m.
Edited by Cara Lacey
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
Photo from Grace Bolander
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