POUGHKEEPSIE (Interstat) — The Marist Red Foxes outlasted the Albany Great Danes 12-10 on Tuesday afternoon at James J. McCann Baseball Field, rallying from a five-run deficit and taking the lead for good in the seventh inning.

Albany grabbed a 10-run lead in the top of the second inning, but the margin was quickly erased as Marist answered with seven runs in the bottom half. The Red Foxes eventually pulled ahead 11-10 in the seventh and added an insurance run, holding on for the victory.

Marist improved to 18-26, while Albany dropped to 13-26.

The game featured 28 combined hits, 14 for each team. Both sides committed one error.

Albany’s big second inning began with a single by Brian Guerrero and a error that put runners on second and third. Kyle Stephens doubled to drive in two runs, and Cooper Loyal followed with a two-run home run. Two more walks and a hit by Michael Maggio loaded the bases, and Levi McAllister singled to bring home a run. After a pitching change to Aidan Vargas, Jaxon Mueller singled to drive in another run. Guerrero singled again, but the inning ended with a pop-up.

The Great Danes led 7-0 after the top of the second.

Marist answered immediately. Nathan Lincoln walked and Chris Diaz singled. After a hit batter, Ayden McNelly doubled to score two runs. Drew McGowan singled, Luke Monico singled for two runs, TJ Baer singled, and AJ Brotz grounded out for a run. Noel Rivera added a run on a fielder’s choice, and Lincoln singled to drive in another run. By the end of the inning, Marist trailed 7-6.

Albany added a run in the top of the fourth on Patrick DeSarno’s home run, making it 8-6. Marist tied the game in the bottom half. Noel Rivera singled, Lincoln singled, and Diaz doubled to score Rivera. The score was 8-7 after four innings.

Marist took the lead in the fifth. Drew McGowan walked, advanced on a bunt, and scored on AJ Brotz’s single. Chris Diaz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run, giving Marist a 10-8 edge.

Albany tied the game in the sixth. DeSarno’s solo homer cut the lead to 10-9. Later in the inning, after a walk and a hit batter, the bases were loaded with one out, but Marist reliever Jason Bassett struck out the next batter to end the threat.

The Red Foxes regained the lead in the seventh. AJ Brotz singled, Noel Rivera walked, and Nathan Lincoln was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chris Diaz walked to force in a run, and Brady Steinert’s fielder’s choice brought home another, making it 12-10.

Albany mounted a final rally in the ninth. Michael Maggio walked, Levi McAllister singled, and Jaxon Mueller singled to score a run, but Brian Guerrero grounded out to end the game with the tying run on base.

Reliever Aidan Vargas was the top star for Marist. He pitched four innings of relief, allowing three hits, no earned runs and striking out two. Vargas improved after a shaky outing against Albany on April 28, when he gave up two earned runs in one inning.

Chris Diaz went 2 for 2 with a double, a walk and three RBIs for Marist. Noel Rivera had two hits and an RBI, and Andrew Speranza pitched two innings of relief, allowing one earned run and striking out three.

For Albany, DeSarno had two hits including a home run and two RBIs. Cooper Loyal also homered and drove in two runs. Justin Hurd pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

The game turned in the second inning when Marist answered Albany’s seven-run outburst with seven of their own, erasing the early deficit and setting up a back-and-forth battle. Marist’s bullpen held Albany to three runs over the final 7⅓ innings after the early barrage, with Vargas and Bassett combining for 5⅓ scoreless innings.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Albany 3, Marist 6, and the ELO system gave Marist a 61.60 percent probability to win.