WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (Interstat) — Marist scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning Thursday to overcome a one-run deficit and defeat Merrimack 13-8 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball championship at Dutchess Stadium.

The Red Foxes improved to 23-29, while the Warriors fell to 27-29. Marist collected 14 hits; Merrimack had nine.

Marist jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a throwing error and stringing together five singles. The Red Foxes added two more runs in the fifth on a two-run home run by right fielder Chris Diaz, who finished 1 for 4 with three RBIs.

Merrimack responded in the bottom of the fifth with a six-run outburst. Right fielder Joe Frammartino doubled in two runs, first baseman Greg Cristino doubled home another and center fielder Cole Goode singled in two more, cutting the deficit to 7-6.

The Warriors took their first lead in the sixth. Cristino singled in a run and third baseman Jayden Hamilton singled in another, making it 8-7.

Marist reclaimed control in the eighth. With one out, left fielder Nathan Lincoln singled in a run to tie it, and shortstop AJ Brotz followed with a bunt single that put the Red Foxes ahead. Lincoln later scored on a sacrifice fly, and a dropped fly by Merrimack’s right fielder and a wild pitch led to three unearned runs.

Second baseman Luke Monico went 2 for 5 with an RBI for Marist. Brotz finished 3 for 6 with an RBI. Lincoln was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Diaz’s homer highlighted a three-hit game for the Red Foxes.

For Merrimack, Cristino went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Hamilton was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Frammartino drove in two runs on 1-for-5 hitting.

Marist used five pitchers. Starter Steven Mazza allowed four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, striking out five. Reliever Logan Scholl gave up two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. Jack Sullivan earned the win, throwing three hitless innings with four strikeouts. The right-hander faced the minimum in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, striking out three. Sullivan’s outing followed a scoreless inning Wednesday against Canisius and a perfect inning May 15 against Bryant.

Merrimack starter Scott Franco allowed seven runs on nine hits in four-plus innings.

The game was the fourth meeting between the teams this season. Merrimack had won two of the previous three, including a 13-7 victory April 26. Marist won 18-3 on April 25; Merrimack won 8-0 on April 24.

Marist advances in the double-elimination tournament. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Merrimack 7, Marist 6.