March 9, 2007
Box Score
KNOXVILLE, TENN. - Siena held a 2-0 lead entering the bottom frame of the sixth inning but let a five-run Volunteer inning get the best of them as the Saints could not surmount a three-run deficit, falling to Tennessee 8-5 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville Friday evening.
Sophomore Craig Chaput pitched a gem for the Saints, throwing five solid innings of work, allowing just four hits and three walks. Sophomore Will Hassett was credited with the loss after allowing both seven runs and seven hits in the 1.2 innings he threw for Siena.
The Saints took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when junior first baseman Rick Seltzer hit a two-run homer to left field after junior Jake Willis reached base safely on a fielder's choice. The home run marks Seltzer's third of the season.
Chaput held the Volunteers scoreless throughout the duration of the five innings, in which he threw but came out in the bottom of the sixth as Hassett relieved him. The five-run Volunteer sixth was initiated when Jeff Lockwood reached on a fielder's choice allowing Yan Gomes to score, who had singled and reached third earlier in the inning. The run sliced the deficit to one, 2-1.
Following a J.P. Arencibia single to right field to score junior Shawn Griffin who had advanced to third after he reached base safely on a throwing error and advanced to third when Cody Brown was thrown out at second in a steal attempt, sophomore Jarred Frazier singled to center field to drive in Lockwood which gave the Vols a 3-2 lead. Andy Simunic then tripled driving in both Frazier and Arencibia, which gave the Volunteers a 5-2 lead.
The Saints countered in the top of the seventh sophomore when Nick Messinger blasted a three-run homerun that sailed over the left field fence, tying the contest, 5-5. Messinger currently leads the team with five home runs.
The Vols' bats proved to be too much down the stretch after Gomes hit a two-run homer in the seventh and Griffin hit an RBI single in the eighth which scored Tony Delmonico, who had walked and stolen second base, giving Tennessee an insurance run and the victory at home by a three-run cushion.
Senior right-handed-pitcher Craig Cobb was credited with the victory for the Volunteers, as he threw seven innings of work, allowing five earned runs on five hits. Cobb struck out four throughout the seven innings in which he pitched.
The two teams hit the diamond for the second game of a three-game set tomorrow at 7 p.m.
