POUGHKEEPSIE (Interstat) — The Marist Red Foxes edged the Bryant Bulldogs 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at James J. McCann Baseball Field, rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to overcome a one-run deficit.

Bryant took an early lead in the third inning. With two outs, Casey Wensley walked and Ellis Garcia doubled, putting runners on second and third. Gavin Greger then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Wensley and giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.

Marist answered in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Diaz led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, tying the game at 1. The Red Foxes threatened further when TJ Baer reached on an error by the shortstop, but two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice left him stranded.

Bryant regained the lead in the top of the fifth. Garcia was hit by a pitch, and Greger and Justin Hackett walked to load the bases with one out. A wild pitch by Marist reliever Ryan VanDeWater allowed Garcia to score, making it 2-1. But the Bulldogs could not add more, as Charlie Saul struck out swinging and Hunter Kingsbury grounded out to the pitcher.

The score remained 2-1 until the decisive seventh inning. Thomas Galusha had worked two scoreless innings in relief for Bryant, but after he was lifted for Owen Birchard, Marist mounted its comeback. Drew McGowan struck out to start the inning, but Luke Monico walked. AJ Brotz grounded out, moving Monico to second. Noel Rivera then delivered a single to left field, scoring Monico and tying the game at 2. Rivera advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Nathan Lincoln followed with a single to center that plated Rivera, giving Marist a 3-2 lead.

Bryant went down in order in the top of the seventh against Jack Sullivan, who earned the save. Sullivan pitched a scoreless inning, allowing no hits and striking out none.

Marist used a parade of pitchers to hold the Bulldogs to four hits. Starter Drew Fierro worked one inning, allowing two hits and no earned runs while striking out one. Jason Bassett followed with two innings, giving up one run and one hit with one strikeout. Jake Burt pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit. VanDeWater took the loss, allowing one run on no hits and two walks in one inning. Aidan Vargas and Sullivan each threw a scoreless inning to close out the game.

For Bryant, Aidan Vining started and pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on no hits with two strikeouts. Sean Zaslaw tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Galusha added two innings of scoreless relief, striking out two. The Bulldogs’ bullpen combined to keep Marist at bay until the seventh, but the Red Foxes finally broke through.

Bryant’s offense managed only four hits total. Carlos Irizarry and Wensley each singled in the first inning, and Garcia doubled in the third. Charlie Saul singled in the fourth. The Bulldogs also drew five walks and stole two bases, but they left five runners on base and were caught stealing once.

Marist collected seven hits. Diaz went 2 for 3 with a home run and an RBI. Rivera and Lincoln each had two hits, with Rivera driving in one run and Lincoln driving in another. The Red Foxes also drew four walks but struck out five times.

With the win, Marist improved to 21-28. Bryant fell to 26-24.

The game was the opener of a twin bill between the two teams, with the second game scheduled to follow shortly.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Bryant 6, Marist 5 entering the contest. Interstat’s ELO system gave Bryant a 67.50 percent probability to win.