May 24, 2008
Final Stats
Trenton, N.J. - Siena saw its baseball season come to an end Saturday night with a 12-5 loss to host school and #4 seed Rider at Waterfront Park in Trenton, N.J. The Broncs rallied to capture the Championship after Siena forced a decisive second game with a dramatic 9-8 extra inning win earlier in the day.
"We played as hard as we could play," Siena coach Tony Rossi said. "We were down on our pitching, and we had to go with a lot of guys who didn't throw a lot this year. We didn't do bad though to get to this point, and even in this game, the score is not indicative of what kind of game it was."
Rider tortured Siena's depleted pitching staff in capturing its first MAAC Championship. The Broncs scored in all but two innings of the Tournament's seventh game, and rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the fourth.
Mo Williams had two hits and drove in four runs. His sixth inning single chased home two big runs, and his RBI double in the seventh capped off a four-run inning that put the game out of reach.
For Siena, the loss marked the end of a memorable season highlighted by 21 victories in the team's final 25 games. The team was remarkably resilient throughout the Championships, winning two elimination games.
The second victory will go down as one of the most memorable wins in school history as the Saints rallied from a one-run deficit in the ninth and a two-run deficit in the 10th to force a second Championship game behind an eight-RBI effort from senior Moises Rivera.
"(Game one) was like two heavyweights going after each other," Rossi said. "It was one of the better games I've ever been involved with and I'm guessing our guys will remember it the rest of their lives."
Leading the way throughout the Tournament for Siena was senior third baseman Jacob Willis. Willis destroyed the school's single season hit record (80) and his 12 hits in the Championships were the most ever by a Saint. He also surpassed Siena's career hit mark today. The MAAC Player of the Year finished with 254 hits in his sensational career.
Willis was one of five Saints named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team. He was joined by teammates Rick Seltzer, Rivera, Nick Messinger and Craig Chaput.
Rider's Jamie Hayes was named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament.
Siena finished the season with a 30-26 record, the third most wins in program history.
"The guys turned it around the last third the season, and made this one of our best years ever," Rossi said. "What can I say. These guys have a lot to be proud of."
