March 23, 2008
Box Score
Loudonville, N.Y. - Sophomore southpaw Craig Marcellus twirled seven spectacular innings of one run baseball and the Saints' bats heated up on a frigid afternoon as the Green and Gold toppled Niagara 9-1 in an Easter Sunday matinee at Siena Field. The rubber game victory gave the Saints (3-13, 2-1) the series over the Purple Eagles (8-8, 1-2) and also their first winning streak of the season.
After giving up a run on a pair of hits and two walks in the first, Marcellus settled down for the remainder of the afternoon. The one blemish on his line, seven walks in seven innings, proved to be irrelevant as Niagara stranded 11 runners on base.
Siena responded with a run in the third to tie the game before exploding for four runs in the fourth to build a 5-1 advantage. Moises Rivera came up with the big hit in the frame, a two-run double that broke the game open. Chris Klepps added an RBI single to cap the scoring in the inning. Rivera, Klepps and catcher Phil Cahill each drove in a pair of runs in the game.
The Green and Gold also added 12 hits led by Jacob Willis' 3-for-4 outing. In all, four Saints posted multiple hit afternoons.
Marcellus surrendered just five hits and fanned three in improving his record to 1-4. Niagara's Marcus Spaulding issued four walks and allowed five runs, albeit only one of which was earned, in being saddled with his first loss of the season.
The Saints continue their ten game homestand when they return to action for a midweek non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday against Hofstra. First pitches are scheduled for 1:30 and 3:30 respectively from Siena Field.
