May 15, 2006

Game 1 Final Stats
Game 2 Final Stats

Siena broke open the second game with four runs in the fifth inning and the Saints pitching corps held the Purple Eagles scoreless after the first inning in a series-evening 5-2 victory. Niagara scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to win the opener 5-4.

Pinch hitter Scott King gave Siena (22-28-1/11-12 MAAC) a 4-3 lead in the first game with a two-run homerun to left centerfield in the seventh. King was one of four regular starters not in the starting lineup for the first game due to a morning final exam. Jake Willis, Rick Seltzer and Matt Gidaly also missed scheduled starts. The game time was moved up to 9 a.m. due to rain in the forecast for the afternoon.

King's homerun held up until the ninth when the Purple Eagles touched starter Ken Grant for two runs. Mike Alati's one-out single tied the game, as Jason DeFillipo's throw from right field arrived just late and Dan Parson's slid around catcher Eric Hildenbrand. Andrew MacNevin followed with what proved to be the game-winning hit, a sharp single to the right centerfield gap.

Matt Ircandia picked up the win in relief for Niagara (23-24/13-10 MAAC). Tyler Addison pitched the bottom of the ninth, allowing two base runners, for his ninth save of the season. Grant suffered the loss. He allowed five runs in eight and a third innings and struck out five.

Paul Solini had three hits for Niagara. Mike Alati and Tim Alberts each had two hits. King was the only Saint with a multi-hit game, adding a ninth inning single to his go-ahead homer.

Niagara carried the momentum into the second game, scoring twice in its first at bat off starter Matt Moberg. Jeff Vincent singled home the first run and then scored on Alberts' sacrifice fly.

Moberg left the game with shoulder stiffness after a scoreless second. Relievers Sean Keeler, JJ Potrikus and Kevin Snyder combined to pitch the final five innings, and none of the three allowed a run. Keeler did not allow a hit in his two innings of work and struck out one. Potrikus was credited with the win, allowing two hits and striking out two in two innings of work. Snyder picked up his first save of the year with a scoreless seventh.

The Saints had their leadoff man reach second base with no outs in each of the first three innings, finally breaking through for a run on Jake Willis' RBI single in the third. Willis tied the game in the fifth with a bases loaded sacrifice fly and Chris Klepps gave the Saints the lead for good on a one-out sacrifice fly. Reliever Matt Ircandia walked the first two batters he faced with two outs and the bases loaded to account for the final 5-2 score.

King and Matt Gidaly had two hits a piece for Siena. Parsons and Vincent had two hits for the Purple Eagles. The two teams finish the three game series with a single game at noon tomorrow.