Siena Baseball salvaged its four-game series with a doubleheader split vs. regional power Florida Gulf Coast Saturday afternoon in Fort Myers. The Saints captured the first game 2-1, while FGCU won the nightcap 18-8 in seven innings to take three of four in the series.
Game One: Siena 2, FGCU 1
Craig Corliss delivered the game-winning hit with one out in the ninth, and
Brendan White struck out a career-high 10 over seven stellar innings of work as Siena (3-7) snapped FGCU's (8-3) five-game winning streak.
Three of the first four batters reached to lead off the ninth inning for the Saints in the pitcher's duel.
Evan St. Claire drew a walk to open the inning, and fellow freshman
Eddie Sweeney delivered a one-out single to put two runners on for Corliss. The sophomore sent a base hit to left for a clutch first hit and RBI of the season.
Meanwhile White was lights out on the mound, scattering just five hits and one run in receiving a no-decision. Freshman
Mike McCully pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first collegiate win.
Sweeney registered three of the five hits for Siena, which tied the game in the sixth on a solo home run by
Matt Hamel.
Mason Studstill allowed just two hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out 10 over six innings of work for FGCU. The Eagles scored their lone run in the second on a wild pitch.
Game Two: FGCU 18, Siena 8 (7)
FGCU pounded out 18 hits and scored runs in all but one inning to capture the nightcap and take the series. The Eagles were aided by five Siena errors which led to eight of the runs being unearned.
Kohl Gilmore finished a double shy of a cycle in going 3-5 with three runs scored and six RBI for FGCU which scored multiple runs in four of their six at-bats. Jay Hayes added three hits and three RBI, while Richie Garcia contributed three hits and three runs.
Hamel homered for the second straight game for Siena, and scored twice while driving in a pair.
Devan Kruzinski added a pair of hits and run scored for the Saints which worked a season-high 12 walks but also stranded 12 runners on base in the seven-inning affair.
Siena tied the game on three separate occasions in the second, third, and fourth innings, only to see FGCU score five times in the fourth to reclaim the lead for good at 11-6. The Saints closed the gap with a pair of runs in the fifth, but the Eagles put the game out of reach with a seven-run sixth.
Siena returns to action Saturday when they open a three-game series with doubleheader action beginning at noon against defending CAA Champion UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina.
