Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J.- After rallying back for four runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Saint Peter's University baseball team was unable to complete the comeback and fell 7-6 Sunday afternoon to Marist College.
The Peacocks had the game-tying run at third base with two outs and senior Matt Mancini (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) at the plate, but a tremendous behind the back grab on a liner up the middle by Marist pitcher Kevin McCarthy ended the inning and the Peacocks' rally.
Saint Peter's collected seven hits as a team, each recorded by a different player. Nicholas Henriquez (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Robert Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood High School) had a hit, a run and an RBI, while Matt Speckmann (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) and Vincent Maietta (Franklin Square, N.J./St. Marys) each managed a hit and scored a run. Chris Grimes (Iselin, N.J./JFK-Iselin) also recorded a hit and drove in a run.
After playing a scoreless two innings, the Peacocks got on the board first- tagging Marist starter Rich Vrana for two runs in the third. Maietta would lead off the inning with a single to right, and advance to second on a bunt single by Speckmann. With outs, Henriquez drilled a pitch to deep left center for a double that cleared the bases (2-0).
The Red Foxes sliced the hosts' lead in half the next inning, scoring on a basehit through the right side by Zack Passerelle to drive in Jake Berry who tripled to right center in the previous at bat. Marist added three more in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead and extended their advantage to five after tacking on three more in the seventh.
Saint Peter's would go down one-two-three in the sixth, seventh and eighth, but saved all their offense for the ninth, when they scored four runs on four hits and a Marist error.
Henriquez led off the ninth reaching first on an error by the Red Foxes and advanced to second on a single by James Smith (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn). A single by Moore brought home Henriquez for the first run of the frame, while Grimes added his own RBI basehit to make the score 7-4.
Rawson made it three singles in the row for the Peacocks in the following at bat, allowing Moore to score and make it a two-run game. Freshman Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./efferson Township High School) knocked in the final run on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Saint Peter's nearly tied the game in the next at bat, as Mancini swung on the second pitch he saw with a runner at third, but Marist's McCarthy reached behind his bag to snag the liner and end the game.
Zach Hopf (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) started the game for Saint Peter's and received the loss after giving up four runs on ten hits and three walks in six innings.
Ed Mejias (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) came out of the bullpen to throw the last 1.2 innings for Saint Peter's and allowed just one walk.
The Peacocks return to action this Tuesday, as they face off against Rutgers on the road at 1pm.
