March 18, 2009

Final Stats

The Siena College baseball team dropped a 10-3 decision to Holy Cross this afternoon in Worcester, Mass. in its first game in the northeast this season. Gary DerHagopian and Anthony Giansanti paced Siena (2-15) with two hits apiece in the team's final game before the first wave of MAAC play.

Holy Cross (3-11) jumped on freshman hurler Ryan Poplawski for five first inning runs and opened a commanding 8-0 lead after three. Designated hitter Nick Ciardiello had the crowning blow with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first.

Siena responded with all three of its runs in the top of the fourth to pull within 8-3. DerHagopian got the Saints rolling with a two-run bomb that chased home Eric Mruczek , his third round-tripper of the season. Later in the frame, Giansanti singled home Nick Messinger for the Saints' final tally.

Derek Klinka scattered eight hits over just 2.1 innings for the Crusaders but did not allow a run to pick up the win in relief. Siena managed 10 hits total for the game, but stranded 10 men on base. Matt Perry added two hits and three RBI and Brendan McCrea notched a pair of base hits and two driven in to lead Holy Cross.

Kyle Sumple, who earned MAAC Pitcher of the Week honors earlier in the season, pitched two solid innings of relief for the Saints, retiring all six men he faced included four by way of the "K."

Siena returns to action for its MAAC opening weekend with a doubleheader Saturday at Fairfield. First pitches are set for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.