March 2, 2013
Final Stats - Game 1 vs. Army
Final Stats - Game 2 vs. Liberty
The Siena baseball team posted an impressive 10-2 win over Army before losing a 4-0 decision to host Liberty in the Flames' Invitational Tournament Saturday in Lynchburg, Va. Sophomore Matt Gage worked seven strong innings to pick up the win against the Black Knights and junior Vincent Citro had seven hits in the two games.
Siena (2-6) pounded out 15 hits and used a six-run seventh to take command in its Tournament-opening win.
Citro had three hits and Andres Ortiz, John Rooney, Brian Fay, Javier Garcia and Mike Allen each had two. It was more than enough offense for Gage.
Gage allowed just seven men to reach in his seven innings of work, before giving way to Ed Lewicki who worked the final two innings allowing three hits and a run.
Citro singled home Siena's first run in the third inning, and Alex Jensen answered with a run-scoring hit in the bottom half of the frame for the Black Knights.
Allen gave the Saints a two-run lead with a two-out, bases-loaded single in the fourth and Siena led the rest of the way. The Saints racked up six hits in the six-run seventh, a rally highlighted by Garcia's two-run single to left. Fay and freshman Tyler Martis each added RBI hits in the frame. Fay then doubled home Siena's 1oth and final run in the eighth.
Citro, Siena's leadoff man, went a perfect 4-for-4 in the nightcap, but the Saints couldn't break through. Liberty starter Roy Brooks pitched eight shutout innings allowing just six hits and striking out five. Brooks improved to 2-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 0.35 in 26 innings of work.
Siena starter Justin Brantley worked into the sixth allowing four earned runs while striking out five. Matt Quintana worked 2.1 innings of perfect relief after hitting the first man he faced to keep the Saints within striking distance.
Liberty got the only run it would need on Bryan Aanderud's RBI double in the first. Aanderud singled home the Flames' second run in the third and Brantley yielded the final two runs in the sixth.
The Saints meet Liberty again Sunday at noon in their final game of the Tournament.
