NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Visiting Marist scored three runs in the top of the ninth to escape City Park with a 4-3 victory against the Iona College baseball program in a MAAC series finale this afternoon.
Trailing 3-1 run heading into the top of the ninth, the Red Foxes (18-15, 8-4 MAAC) were able to produce three runs with no hits and claim the lead. Reese Armitage led off with a 3-2 walk before Anthony Lazar walked on a 3-1 count to put runners on first and second. Looking to put down a sacrifice bunt, Andrew Rouse reached on a throwing error that allowed Armitage to score and cut the deficit to 3-2. With one out two batters later, Tyler Kapuscinski tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Lazar. During the next at-bat, Rouse gave Marist the advantage by scoring on a wild pitch.
The Red Foxes grabbed the initial lead with Lazar leading off the game with a home run to left field on an 0-2 count. In the bottom of the second, back-to-back doubles from
Seth Hoagland and
Fran Kinsey tied the game for the Maroon & Gold (9-27, 4-10 MAAC).
After the third, fourth and fifth innings went scoreless, the Gaels took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the sixth with Hoagland scoring the go ahead run. With one out, the right fielder singled to right field and later stole second. During the steal attempt, Hoagland was able to take third on a throwing error and then scored on a wild pitch. In the seventh,
Niko Switalla put Iona ahead 3-1 with a RBI single to score
Tyler Bruno. Bruno led the inning off with a single and stole second to set up the two-out scoring opportunity.
With Marist claiming the lead in the top half of the ninth, Mike Coss finished out his 2.1 innings of relief work with three strikeouts towards five total on the day while earning his fifth win of the season in the progress.
Hoagland and Kinsey were joined by
Sean Scales as the team leaders on the day with two hits a piece.
Stephen Hansen went six innings in the start, allowing just three hits with one strikeout.
The Maroon & Gold return to City Park on Tuesday to host LIU Brooklyn for the final contest of a nine-game homestand and before eight straight games away from New Rochelle.
