April 30, 2011
Final Stats Game 1
Final Stats Game 2
Siena and Fairfield entered their MAAC series Saturday with identical 6-6 league records. They are now both 7-7. Down to their final out, Fairfield rallied to tie the second game before winning in extras 2-1, avoiding a sweep at the hands of the Saints, 3-1 winners in game one.
Siena trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the eighth in the opener, before Kevin Quaranto singled home two runs with the bases loaded after Dan Paolini was intentionally walked. Adam Guinn's RBI single in the ninth provided insurance for Ryan Poplawski, who pitched the final three innings to pick up the victory.
John Rooney had two hits in the opener and scored the tying run. Kyle Sumple started for the Saints and worked six strong innings, allowing just one run while scattering nine hits and four walks.
In the second game, Siena starter Justin Brantley came within an out of his second straight complete game shutout, but it wasn't to be. Siena took a 1-0 lead into the seventh and final inning, scoring its single tally in the third on Vincent Citro's RBI single.
Anthony Hajjar singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and was promptly pinch ran for. Chris Horning then sacrificed pinch-runner Tyler Wosleger to second, and then Ryan Plourde walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Brantley then struck out Nick Piccirillo to move within an out of the win, but pinch-hitter Jack Giannini reached on an infield single, and head coach Tony Rossi went to the pen again for Poplawski.
With the count full on Fairfield leadoff man Ryan Furbeck, the bases loaded, and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Poplawski's payoff pitch got away from him and hit Furbeck, bringing home the tying run and extending the game.
Poplawski's control problems continued in the eighth, as he walked back-to-back batters with one out, bringing freshman Neil Fryer into the game. Fryer walked the first man he faced, and Plourde then singled home the game winner with a full count.
The two teams play a crucial rubber game tomorrow with both teams vying for a MAAC Tournament berth.
