Jan. 7, 2016
As we begin 2016, we take a look back at the top Siena Athletics' moments of 2015. Over the next 10 days, we will count down the Top-10 Moments of the Year, continuing today with Moment #8.
The Moment
May 8 â€" After suffering a tough 5-4 setback to Monmouth in its first MAAC Tournament game, the Siena softball team rallied to defeat Iona and Manhattan to advance to the brink of their first MAAC Championship series appearance.
Why We Loved It
This is a program on the rise. The Saints have steadily improved each season under Lajeunesse, and have emerged as a legitimate championship contender moving forward. Senior Paige Lloyd's three-run home run paced the Manhattan win, but the future is bright with pitchers Lauren Butts and Amanda Gatt returning for multiple seasons. Siena finished 11-7 in the MAAC and was in the hunt for the regular-season title up until the final day of play. The Saints hit .304 as a team in 2015 and return several key components to one of the league's top offenses.
Behind the Scenes
The Championships were held in Buffalo at Canisius' Demske Sports Complex. Lloyd homered in both Siena wins. The Saints gave up three runs in the first inning of their tough 5-4 loss to Monmouth to start the Tournament. The fifth-seeded Hawks advanced to the Championship before losing twice to Fairfield on Championship Saturday. It was the first title for the Stags.
Did You Know?
The Saints won multiple MAAC Tournament games for the first time and won 20 games for the fifth straight year under Lajeunesse. Siena had just one (2005) 20-win season before Lajeunesse took over in 2011.
Quotable
" Qualifying for the MAAC tournament for the third consecutive year has shown the progress we have made as a softball program at Siena. Making a good run in the Championships was important to our senior class and showed our younger players what kind of effort it takes to win the MAAC's which will help us to reach our goal of becoming a MAAC champion in the future." â€" Head Coach Bill Lajeunesse
Relive the Moment
Siena's Season Ends After Deep Tournament Run
