April 14, 2010
Final Stats
NYIT scored two runs in the eighth to take the lead, and added an insurance run in the ninth to rally past Siena 6-4 in a seesaw game Wednesday in Loudonville. It was the fourth straight setback for the Saints who head to Buffalo to play MAAC leader Canisius this weekend.
Both teams scored in their first at bat. Sebastian Grazziani doubled with one out and later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to account for the first run of the game. Siena (13-19) answered when Dan Paolini and Kevin Quaranto hit back-to-back home runs with two outs in the bottom half of the frame. It was Paolini's MAAC-leading 13th blast of the season.
NYIT (12-12) retook the lead in the third on Christian Dienna's two-RBI single to right. Those would be the only three runs Siena starter Nicco Stento would allow. Stento went 5.2 strong innings, scattering seven hits and striking out three.
The Saints tied the game, 3-3, on Dan Gasapo's RBI single in the fourth and took the lead in the seventh when Anthony Giansanti followed Mike Allen's leadoff triple with a sacrifice fly.
Designated hitter Dan Lackner provided the big blow of the game, launching a two-run home run in the eighth off Siena reliever Ryan Poplawski to give the Bears the lead for good. Jerry Smith's RBI single in the ninth added an insurance run, and Andrew Gurassi pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Grazziani led all players with three hits for NYIT. Teammates Jerry Smith, Robert Loftus and Lackner finished with two apiece. No Siena player posted a multi-hit game.
