University of Albany Baseball Sweeps Marist in Non-Conference Doubleheader - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Senior centerfielder Dave West went 3-for-4 with a home run to lead UAlbany to a 5-4 win over Marist in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at McCann Field. Freshman Mike Tirri knocked out an RBI-single in game two to send two baserunners home to give UAlbany a 2-1 comeback win over the Red Foxes.

In the first game of the day, Marist jumped out to a two-run lead in the second inning. George Agostini singled to short before Ryan Gauck knocked a base hit through the right side. Agostini later scored on a fielder’s choice and Gauck made it home on a UAlbany fielding error on the same play.

The Great Danes took a three-run lead in the top of the fifth, scoring five runs. Sophomore second baseman Kyle Crean lead off with a double. West followed with a homer that sailed over the field in left center, tying the game at 2-2. Brendan Rowland and Ryan Gugel hit back-to-back singles and Sean Donovan drew a walk to load the bases for the Great Danes. Tirri, the reigning America East Conference Rookie of the Week, recorded a sacrifice fly to score Rowland, while junior Jim Banks drove a single into center, sending the remaining baserunners across home plate.

Marist responded with one run in the bottom of the frame, as Ricky Pacione, who hit a double to start the inning, scored on a passed ball to pull the Red Foxes within 5-3. Pacione was responsible for Marist’s lone run in the bottom of the sixth as well, knocking out a base hit that scored Kyle Meyer before getting tagged out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Cory Warrings earned the win for UAlbany, going 1.1 innings without allowing a run. Senior right hander Sean Gregory earned his third save of the season, throwing the final 2.2 frames, striking out two. Eric Alessio took the loss for Marist, allowing four earned runs.

Game two was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Gauck led off with a single to right field. Gauck was later driven in by Ben Luderer, who recorded a double and was tagged out at third. The Great Danes capitalized in the final inning, scoring two runs to take the lead. Gugel and Jamie Liebowitz knocked out consecutive base hits to start the inning. Tirri entered the game to pinch hit for Adam Cutspec and drove a single to centerfield to send Gugel and pinch-runner Pete DiResta home.

UAlbany closer Alexander Beaulieu got the Red Foxes to line out twice and induced a ground out from the final batter he faced to seal the win for the Great Danes in the bottom of the seventh. Sean McKeown took the loss for Marist, falling to 2-1 on the season after striking out two in 6.1 innings of work. Beaulieu earned the win for UAlbany with his two-inning performance. Starter Ryan White went 4.1 innings on the mound and finished with five strikeouts while scattering just three hits.

UAlbany (11-16) has now won six straight and nine of the last 10 games. The Great Danes, who are in first place in the America East Conference standings with the only undefeated record in the league at 4-0, host rival Binghamton in a four-game series over the weekend. The teams will square off on Saturday and Sunday with doubleheaders both days starting at noon.

UAlbany 000 050 0 - 5 7 1
Marist 020 011 0 - 4 9 0

UAlbany: Chris Ott, Cory Warrings (4), Sean Gregory (5) and Ryan Gugel.
Marist: Richard Cary, Eric Alessio (5), Jake Rifkin (5) and Bryce Nugent.


UAlbany (11-16) 000 000 2 - 2 7 0
Marist (14-14) 000 010 0 - 1 3 1

UAlbany: Ryan White, Chris Hackett (5), Alexander Beaulieu (6) and Ralph Keppler.
Marist: Sean McKeown, Jacob Wiley (7) and Andrew Stanton.