ALBANY (Interstat) — Jason Bassett pitched four scoreless innings of hitless relief as Marist defeated Albany 10-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Varsity Field.

Bassett allowed one earned run while striking out one and walking none, lowering his earned run average after a strong previous outing against Army. Andrew Speranza tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts and Jake Burt added two innings of one-run relief as the Red Foxes improved to 16-25.

Albany fell to 12-23.

Marist struck first in the top of the first when TJ Baer singled and later scored on a triple by AJ Brotz in the third. Brotz also stole home later in the inning after Noel Rivera walked and stole second, giving Marist a 3-0 lead. Rivera scored on a single by Nathan Lincoln.

Albany got on the board in the bottom of the first when Levi McAllister doubled to right center, scoring Michael Maggio who had singled and stolen second.

The Red Foxes added an unearned run in the fourth when Chris Diaz singled, stole second and third, then scored on a wild pitch. Diaz finished 3 for 4 with a home run and a stolen base.

Marist broke the game open in the top of the eighth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Connor Lawrence homered to right field, driving in three runs to make it 10-1. Lawrence went 1 for 4 with the home run and three RBIs.

Albany mounted a rally in the bottom of the eighth. After a walk and an error, Jaxon Mueller doubled down the left field line, scoring two runs. Patrick DeSarno followed with an RBI single, and Brian Guerrero grounded into a double play that allowed Mueller to score, cutting the deficit to 10-5. Cooper Loyal tripled but was stranded.

Marist added two more runs in the top of the ninth on a single by Brady Steinert.

For Albany, Tyler Kneller pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit. Ryan Pittz also threw two scoreless innings. Jaxon Mueller drove in two runs for the Great Danes.

Marist’s pitching staff combined to allow six hits while striking out six. Albany grounded into two double plays.

The game was the first of a two-game series between the teams. Marist returns home to host Sacred Heart on Friday, while Albany travels to Maryland-Baltimore County for a weekend series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Marist 5, Albany 4. Interstatl’s ELO system had projected Marist with a 54.60 percent probability to win.