FISHKILL, NEW YORK – The Marist baseball team (7-14, 3-3 MAAC) split a double header with Manhattan on Saturday afternoon. The Red Foxes lost 3-2 in game one that was only seven innings, but got the bats going in game two to win 9-1.

Game One: Manhattan 3, Marist 2

Redshirt sophomore right-fielder Zachary Racusin (Mendham, New Jersey) led the way for the Red Foxes going 3-for-3 with one run scored. Senior first basemen Steve Laurino (Carle Place, New York) was 1-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Junior left fielder Matt Pagano (Cranston, Rhode Island) went 2-for-3 with one run scored, while junior second basemen Joey Aiola (Suffern, New York) was 2-for-3.

Manhattan stuck first in the bottom of the third inning and scored when a sacrifice fly drove in a runner who reached on a dropped fly ball. The Red Foxes scored two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. Laurino homered to right field, and Pagano scored a run off a Racusin single to left field.

The Jaspers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning. A double to left field drove in two base runners to regain the lead at 3-2. The Red Foxes had three more outs in the top of the seventh but failed to get anyone home.

Joe Jacques (1-1), who pitched 1.2 innings, picked up the win for the Jaspers. Senior right-hander Evan Davis (Little Falls, New York) pitched a complete game (6.0) and got the loss for Marist. Davis (2-4) gave up three hits and two earned runs with nine strikeouts.

Game Two: Marist 9, Manhattan 1                                                                         

The Red Foxes had seven players tally at least one RBI. Pagano went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Junior shortstop John Brucker (Sparta, New Jersey) had two RBIs and was 1-for-4 at the plate with one run scored. Sophomore designated hitter Tyler Kirkpatrick (Eagleville, Pennsylvania) had one RBI and was 2-for-5 at the plate, while Aiola was 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.

The Red Foxes scored first in the second inning to gain a 1-0 lead. Pagano scored on a Racusin single through the left side to start the scoring for the Red Foxes. In the third, Belitz scored off an Aiola single through the right side to give Marist a 2-0 lead. The Jaspers scored a run of their own in the bottom of the third to pull within one.

In the sixth inning Marist scored four runs to extend its lead to 6-1. Senior catcher Mark Swertfager (Katonah, New York) singled to third base driving home Laurino. Swertfager and Pagano scored off a Brucker single. Brucker then scored off a Kirkpatrick single through the left side. The Red Foxes scored three more runs to extend their lead to 9-1 in the ninth inning. Aiola scored off a Laurino single, while Pagano tripled down the right field line and Laurino and McIntire scored.

Senior left-hander Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, New York) pitched 8.0 innings and picked up the win for Marist. Vrana (1-3) gave up six hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. Scott McClennan (2-4), who pitched 5.1 innings, picked up the loss for Manhattan. McClennan gave up nine hits and six earned runs with three strikeouts.

The Red Foxes return to action on Tuesday, April 7 for a home doubleheader against Albany. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.