April 18, 2009
Final Stats
Siena's weekend pitching continues to be an enigma and after an off day Saturday, the Saints have a lot of work to do to get back in the MAAC race. Rider swept to games in Loudonville, pulling away late to win the first 12-2 before taking the bizarre finale 10-9 in eight innings.
Sean Olson had three hits, five RBI and four runs to lead Rider in the first game. His ninth inning grand slam was the emphatic exclamation point to Rider's convincing series opening win.
Siena starter Will Hassett pitched well, with the only real blemish coming on a Mason Heyne three-run home run in a four-run third for the Broncs. He allowed one unearned run in the first and three Rider runs were credited to him after he left with the bases loaded and nobody out in the eighth.
Dan Paolini, Kevin Quaranto and Anthony Giansanti had two hits in the loss for Siena. Paolini hit a two-run home run in the fourth to put the Saints on the board.
Rider led the second game 9-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth of seven scheduled innings before Siena made a miracle rally. Kyle Hudon tripled and later scored on Teddy Trymbiski's shallow sacrifice fly to account for Siena's two runs in the sixth. The Saints still trailed by five in the bottom of the seventh when Rider summonsed usually reliable closer James Hayes with the potential tying run on deck. Hayes walked four of the first five batters he faced and balked home a run. His bases loaded walk to Bill Cardona forced home the tying run. He recovered to induce a ground out by Giansanti to force extra innings.
Rider scored the eventual winning run in the eighth. Mason Heyne reached second on a throwing error to start the inning and moved to third on Maurice Williams' bunt single. He scored on Steve Galella's pinch hit sacrifice fly.
The Saints loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth, but Hayes struck out the side to pick up the victory. Jason DeFilippo - who singled to start the eighth inning rally - led Siena with three hits. Cardona had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Olson had three of Rider's 13 hits.
Siena drops to 5-9 in MAAC play with the two losses, while Rider improves to 8-6 in the conference. The two teams will complete their three-game series at noon on Sunday.
