April 21, 2011

Final Stats

Siena struck for eight runs with two outs in the ninth inning to pull off an improbable come-from-behind 9-4 win at Niagara Thursday afternoon. Kyle Baldani broke out of a season-long slump to deliver the key blow - a two-run double that turned a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 lead, and opened the flood gates.

The Saints had plenty of baserunners all afternoon, but could never produce the key hit until the frustration ended in a big way in their final at bat. The rally looked like it would never happen when star Dan Paolini looked at strike three for the second out of the ninth with two men on and Siena down 4-1, but his teammates picked him up big time.

Kevin Quaranto singled to make the score 4-2, and then Mike Fish walked to load the bases. After a pitching change, Larry Balkwill was hit by a pitch to force home Siena's third run, and Baldani followed with the game-changing drive - an opposite-field shot on the second pitch he saw that chased home Quaranto and Fish. Adam Guinn pushed the lead to 7-4 with an ensuing single to right that brought home Balkwill and Baldani. Siena tacked on two more runs for good measure.

C.J. Sohl (4-1) earned his second win of the week in relief. Kyle Sumple started, and pitched seven solid innings.

The Saints were bailed out by the bottom of their order, as Guinn had two hits, two runs and two RBI, and freshman Tyler Bell went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs.

Brian Deering paced Niagara to its comfortable lead with a 3-for-3 day that included a home run in the fifth after Siena scored its first run.

The victory was critical for Siena which continues to climb back into the MAAC race after losing five of its first six conference games this season. The two teams close out their series with a doubleheader at noon on Friday.