March 30, 2013

Final Stats Game 1
Final Stats Game 2

Siena rallied for a 9-5 win in the opener, but Marist got an 11-inning complete game from senior Brett Houseal to take the nightcap 2-1. The Red Foxes won the first game of the series Thursday.

The Saints scored in their last five at bats in Saturday's first game and got 3.2 innings of scoreless relief from their bullpen. Marist led 5-3 after a four-run fourth, but Siena answered right away with two runs to tie the game.

John Rooney doubled to lead-off the fifth, stole third and scored what proved to be the winning run on Mike Allen's sacrifice fly. Larry Balkwill's two-run double highlighted a three-run sixth, providing more than enough insurance in the seven-inning contest.

Balkwill and Mike Allen each drove in three runs for the Saints. Andres Ortiz, Mike Fish and Tyler Martis each had two hits.

Housel and Siena starter Ed Lewicki locked horns in a classic pitcher's duel in the decisive third game. Lewicki pitched into the 10th inning, allowing just one unearned run in the third. He gave up just seven hits and struck out three.

Housel lasted just a bit longer, and got stronger as he went on. The right-hander gave up just seven hits in his 11 innings, struck out five and retired 22 of the last 24 men he faced. Kyle Baldani's second-inning single drove home Siena's only run.

The two pitchers put 15 straight zeroes on the scoreboard before Marist pushed across the game-winning on Graham McIntire's two-out single in the 11th.

Siena managed just one hit after the fourth inning: Andres Ortiz' one-out single in the 11th.

Seven of the last nine games in the series have been decided by just one run.

The Saints complete their four-game homestand Monday against UMass at 3 p.m.