May 14, 2010
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
Dan Paolini homered twice, taking over the national lead and setting a new MAAC single-season record with his 23rd and 24th blasts of the season, as Siena swept a key MAAC doubleheader from Fairfield Friday in Loudonville, 9-4 and 5-4, keeping its MAAC Tournament hopes very much alive.
The Saints evened their season record at 25-25 and moved to 11-9 in conference play with their fifth straight league win.
Game 1: Siena 9, Fairfield 4
The Saints scored five runs in the second and never trailed in a comfortable series-opening victory.
Kyle Sumple picked up his second straight complete game win, allowing just seven hits and four runs in nine innings of work, while striking out seven and walking just one. Paolini homered in the fifth, to become the MAAC's single-season home run king. The solo shot led off a two-run frame that gave Sumple a 7-0 cushion.
Mike Fish (Delamr, N.Y./Bethlehem) paced the Siena offense with three hits and two RBI. Paolini and Kyle Barbato each had two knocks and three RBI, while Anthony Giansanti and Kevin Quaranto each collected two hits and two runs.
Quaranto hit safely in both ends of the doubleheader, running his hitting streak to 19 games, the 16th longest active streak in the nation.
Fairfield did its damage with the long ball. Carmine DeVito hit a two-run shot in the seventh to make the score 8-3 and Marco Garamella homered with two outs in the ninth to account for the final margin.
Game 2: Siena 5, Fairfield 4
Fish's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth chased home Andrew Sawyer with what proved to be the winning run as Siena rallied from a 4-0 deficit to pull off the doubleheader sweep.
Fairfield exploded for four runs in the first inning and chased starter Robert Tedesco from the game in the third, but the Saints rallied behind their bullpen.
Ryan Poplowski relieved Tedesco with the bases loaded and one out in the third and worked out of trouble. He did not allow a run and sacrificed just two hits in 3.2 masterful innings of relief. Giasnanti came on in the seventh to pick up his fifth save of the season. He has not allowed a run in 10 appearances this season.
Siena rallied in the third, scoring three times on back-to-back home runs by Paolini and Quaranto. Paolini started the scoring with a two-run opposite field shot and Quaranto followed with a majestic blast to right center.
Siena took advantage of three walks to tie the game in the fourth on a Giansanti sacrifice fly. In the sixth, Sawyer started the rally with a sharp single and was pushed to second on Giansanti's sacrifice bunt. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Fish laced a single over the drawn in infield to provide the go--ahead run.
The two teams will complete the three game series Saturday at noon here in Loudonville. It's Senior Day for the Saints who will recognize their six-member class prior to the game. The contest will also be played in memory of Tyler DeMarco who passed away at the age of 12 of brain cancer in February. There are several activities planned for area youth beginning at 11 a.m. and the event is free of charge. First pitch is slated for noon.
