Quinnipiac Takes First Game of MAAC Baseball Championship
MAAC Sports
FISHKILL, N.Y. – Quinnipiac advances in the winner’s bracket of the championship and will face second-seeded Canisius at noon on Thursday, May 21. Marist will face the loser of game two, either No. 4 seed Siena or No. 5 seed Monmouth, on Thursday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.
The game started out strong offensively for both clubs as Marist led off the top of the first scoring two runs out of the gate. After back to back singles by outfielders Zach Racusin and Graham McIntire, with runners on first and second and one out, designated hitter Matt Pagano singled to left field driving in Racusin and moving McIntire to third. With runners on the corners, outfielder Tyler Kirkpatrick flied a ball to right field for the sacrifice to score McIntire giving the Red Foxes a 2-0 lead.
Quinnipiac fired back in the bottom of the first as Bobcat infielder’s loaded the bases when Scott Donaghue walked, Matt Batten singled and Vincent Guglietti walked with one out. Catcher Lou Ianotti singled to left to drive in Donaghue and Batten to tie the game at 2-2. On the same play during a throw to the plate, Guglietti was caught in between bases while Ianotti was doubled off following behind the runner to get Marist pitcher Evan Davis out of the inning.
Both Evans and Quinnipiac pitcher Thomas Jankins would bear down and not allow another run to cross the plate until the fifth inning, with each team getting just two hits apiece over three innings. In the top of the fifth, Racusin and McIntire gathered back to back walks with one out. Red Fox infielder Stephen Laurino knocked an infield single up the middle to score Racusin to give Marist a 3-2 lead. Jankins would get out of the inning and the Bobcats would come to bat, once again putting runs on the board. Donaghue would again reach base on a single and Batten would follow after being hit by a bitch. Guglietti would drive in both runners on a bases clearing triple to the left center gap giving the Bobcats a 4-3 lead. Ianotti would get up to the plate and drive in Guglietti on a grounder to short, reaching on an error, to give Quinnipiac a 5-3 lead.
The Bobcats would score again in the bottom of the eighth inning as outfielders Julius Saporito and Mike Palladino both singled up the middle to start the inning. Saporito would be pinch ran for by outfielder Matt Payero. Donaghue came to the plate and reached on a fielder’s choice putting runners on the corners for the Bobcats as Payero was tagged out, sending Palladino to third. Donaghue would steal second safely as Palladino would score on the double steal giving Quinnipiac a 6-3 lead. After a Batten walk, Guglietti would deliver again driving in Donaghue on a single to centerfield to give Quinnipiac a 7-3 lead heading into the ninth.
Jankins would head back out to the mound for the ninth and close out the game for the Bobcats sending the Red Foxes down in order to preserve the victory for Quinnipiac. Jankins finished the game throwing nine innings giving up three runs on eight hits and walking three while striking out four. Guglietti finished his day going two for three scoring one run and driving in three.
For the Red Foxes, Davis threw six innings giving up five runs on six hits and walking six while striking out four. Pagano finished his day two for four driving in a run.
Tickets for the MAAC Baseball Championship are on sale now at the Dutchess Stadium box office. Admission will be $20 per day for adults and $5 per day for kids 12 and under. All seating is general admission.
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