Marist Claims 7-6 Win Over Canisius in Game One of the 2009 MAAC Baseball Championship
MAAC Sports
Trenton, N.J. ? Sophomore third baseman Ricky Pacione recorded two runs and three RBI to lead third-seeded Marist College (29-25) past #2 Canisius College (33-21), 7-6, in game one of the 2009 MAAC Baseball Championship at Waterfront Park.
The Red Foxes first got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning, as sophomore catcher Bryce Nugent registered a single to left field to bring in junior first baseman Ryan Gauck.
The Griffs tied things up in the bottom of the fourth with junior right fielder Shayne Willson singling to left field to allow MAAC Player of the Year Kevin Mahoney to cross home plate.
In the top of the fifth, junior shortstop Richard Curylo reached home plate after Pacione tripled down the left field line, and senior left fielder Brian McDonough singled up the middle to allow Pacione to score and put Marist up, 3-1.
In the sixth inning, Canisius tied it at 3-3, thanks to a two-run homer over the left field wall by sophomore designated hitter Steve McQuail.
Marist regained the lead in the top of the seventh as Pacione knocked a two-run homer to left field to give the Red Foxes a 5-3 lead.
But the Griffs knotted the score once more in the seventh as senior centerfielder Branson Joseph singled to right field to plate to plate junior leftfielder Ian Choy and senior second baseman Kevin Mailloux.
The Red Foxes responded in the top of the eighth as freshman centerfielder Jon Schwind looped a two-run triple to left center to make it 7-5 in favor of Marist.
The Griffs added one more run in the bottom of the ninth, with Mahoney scoring on double to left center by Joseph.
Marist’s Jacob Wiley, the MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year, earned the win and improved to 8-1 on the mound, while Canisius’ Mike Goemans fell to 7-5 on the year.
Marist will play the winner of tonight’s game between #1 Manhattan College and #4 Rider University in Game 4 on Friday, May 22, at 3:30 p.m. Canisius will play the loser of tonight’s game tomorrow at noon.