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Box Score 2 JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Marist rallied for a pair of victories to sweep a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) baseball doubleheader against Saint Peter's on Saturday.
Chris Hugg (Ironia, N.J./Randolph) paced the Peacocks (9-37-1, 6-17 MAAC) by going 5-for-9 with four RBIs and a run scored in the doubleheader. After getting out in his first two at-bats, the senior registered a hit in his next three at-bats with a three-run homer, a double and a single to finish a triple shy of the cycle. Hugg then found the hole on the left side of the infield in his first two plate appearances in the nightcap to register five-consecutive hits during the two games.
Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) added three hits, three runs scored and an RBI and Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) posted three hits, including a two-run homer on the afternoon.
Graham McIntire powered the Red Foxes (18-24-1, 12-11 MAAC) with three four hits, five RBIs and four runs scored while Zach Racusin posted three hits, four RBIs and three runs scored in the doubleheader.
Marist came into the series needing two wins to secure a berth in the upcoming MAAC Tournament and the first game did not look like it would be one of those victories until a five-run ninth capped a rally for a 9-8 victory.
Trailing 8-4 in the ninth inning, the Red Foxes started their comeback with a Racusin RBI before McIntire singled through the left side to plate the second run. Tyler Kirkpatrick walked with the bases loaded to bring home the third run before Matt Pagano hit an infield single to tie the game at 8. Pagano hit a slow roller back toward the pitcher, but with the pitcher falling off to the first base side of the field the ball got passed the hurler toward the shortstop for a base hit. Joey Aiola then gave Marist the lead for good on a sacrifice fly for a 9-8 advantage.
Saint Peter's put a runner on third in its last two innings, but the one left stranded in the eighth might have been the biggest runner stranded. Hugg led off the eighth with a double down the left field line and moved to third on Nick Henriquez's (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) groundout. With one out, a strikeout and a fly out ended the threat.
In the ninth, Moore walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground out, but a fly out to left ended the game to give the Red Foxes the victory.
The Peacocks struck first in the game with a run in the first. Kristoffersen doubled to right center and came around to score when Henriquez's shallow fly ball to right fell in front of the right fielder for an RBI single and 1-0 lead.
Marist used a McIntire three-run homer in the third to grab a 3-1 lead and then made it a three-run lead on a Racusin RBI single through the left side in the fourth.
Saint Peter's then scored six times in the fourth to take a 7-4 advantage. Zach Rawson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) walked and came around to score on Moore's two-run homer to make it a one-run game. Sean Henry (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) singled with one out and Kyle Grimes (Iselin, N.J./JFK Memorial) was hit with a pitch before Kristoffersen plated Henry on a single to center to tie the game at 4. Hugg then sent a ball over the left field fence for an "Earl Weaver" three-run special for a 7-4 lead.
In the seventh, Vinny Maietta (Franklin Square, N.Y./Saint Mary) singled up the middle before pinch runner Nick Cardamone moved to second on Moore's opposite field single and came around to score on Mike Ionta's (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) single to left center for an 8-4 margin. The Red Foxes then posted five runs in the ninth to earn the come-from-behind victory.
Anthony Assante (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) took the loss in the opener.
Looking for a win to clinch a playoff spot, Marist rallied again to earn a 7-4 win in the second game.
The Peacocks took the lead first for the second time on the day with two runs in the third. Kristoffersen singled through the right side and came around to score on Hugg's RBI single through the left side. Hugg then stole second and touched home when Rawson found the same hole through the left side for a 2-0 lead.
The Red Foxes answered with a run in the third on an RBI groundout by Pagano to trim the margin to 2-1.
Racusin doubled home two runs in the fourth to give the visitors the lead for good before Kirkpatrick scored on an error in the sixth to increase the Marist advantage to 4-2.
James Spadaccini (Butler, N.J./Butler) singled through the right side and came around to score on Henry's RBI double down the left field line to trim the margin to 4-3 in the sixth.
McIntire added an RBI double and Steve Laurino smacked a two-run homer in the seventh to increase the margin to 7-3.
Cardmone touched home on an error in the seventh to set the final score to 7-4.
John Leiter (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) took the loss in the nightcap.
The two teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 12 p.m. Prior to the game, Saint Peter's will honor seniors Grimes, Henriquez, Henry, Hugg, Rawson, Mark Wilson (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) and Michael Wulff (Madison, N.J./Madison) in a pregame ceremony starting at 11:40 a.m.
