Siena Baseball scored each of its first seven runs with two outs as the clutch Saints took the series-opener 9-7 at Bowling Green. Freshman Nick Melillo drove in his first four career RBI to lead the Saints.
 
Melillo went 2-3, while Craig Corliss and Zach Durfee added two hits apiece to lead a balanced attack for Siena (4-10). Tim Carroll contributed a pair of RBI for the Saints which put 20 runners on base.
 
Tyler Haas drove in three runs and Ty Suntken went 3-4 with a pair of runs scored to pace Bowling Green (3-11).
 
Siena struck for four, two-out runs in the top of the first inning to build a lead they would not relinquish. Corliss and Carroll each delivered RBI hits, while Melillo capped the inning with a two-run single.
 
Bowling Green got on the board in the third, and rallied within 4-3 following a two-run fourth. But the Saints got all three runs back – all of which were manufactured with two outs – to push the lead back to four midway through the contest. Melillo and Carson Dunkel both worked bases loaded walks, while Carroll came into score on a wild pitch.
 
The Falcons used a little two-out magic of their own in the home half of the fifth to again rally within a run thanks to a three-run frame which cut the Siena lead to 7-6. Haas connected for a two-run single, while Suntken added an RBI hit.
 
However the Saints put the first four men aboard to open the sixth, as Carroll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Melillo added a sacrifice fly to account for Siena's final runs.
 
Tommy Miller struck out six over eight workman-like innings to secure the win for the Saints. He surpassed Matt Gage for second all-time in program history in strikeouts, and now stands just seven shy of the record 222 set by Dave Pahucki '02.
 
Siena will look to secure the series win Sunday when the teams complete the weekend set at noon.