LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Baseball captured both ends of a crucial MAAC doubleheader vs. Niagara Saturday at Connors Park in polar opposite ways. The Saints tied for their highest scoring output in three years to prevail 17-14 in a series-opening slugfest, and walked-off 2-1 in an extended nine innings in the nightcap behind a dominant pitching performance from Brendan White.
 
Game One: Siena 17, Niagara 14
Siena (17-29, 11-9) broke a final tie with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim a wild opener. The 17 runs scored matched the program's most in a game since a 19-7 win at George Mason on Mar. 13, 2016.
 
The teams combined for 31 runs, 42 hits, eight errors, seven pitchers, and 360 pitches thrown in a three-hour, 31-minute marathon. The 31 combined runs scored marked the most in a game for the Saints in nine years, since combining for a program-record 37 runs in a 19-18 loss at Manhattan on May 21, 2010.   
 
Siena erupted for 11 runs over the first two innings to build an early seven-run lead. But Niagara (13-31, 7-13) scored runs in each of the first seven innings – and scored nine unanswered runs at one juncture – to claim a 13-11 lead following a four-run sixth.
 
The Saints went back in front with a three-run home half of the sixth before the Purple Eagles scored their final run to draw even one last time at 14-all in the seventh.
 
But Siena struck last in the epic barnburner. Evan St. Claire, who entered play with just 10 hits all season, laced his fourth hit of the day to center field to score Zach Durfee with the decisive run. St. Claire drove in four runs and also scored four times in a season-best performance, while classmate Ryan McGee added four RBI of his own to go along with three hits, and fellow freshman Devan Kruzinski contributed three hits, three runs scored, and three RBI.
 
All nine Siena starters both reached base safely and scored runs, while eight tallied hits as part of a season-high 21-hit barrage.
 
Niagara also amassed 21 hits led by four from No. 9 hitter Darian Blanks, as a total of eight Purple Eagles registered multi-hit performances.
 
Game Two: Siena 2, Niagara 1 (9)
A highly touted matchup featuring the MAAC's two leading pitchers in both ERA and strikeouts in Niagara's Matthew Brash and Siena's Brendan White more than lived up to its billing.
 
Brash allowed just four hits and one run while walking two and striking out seven of 7.1 innings, to be outdueled by White who tallied a career-high 12 strikeouts while going the distance. White scattered seven hits and surrendered just one unearned run while walking only two over nine sensational innings.
 
With runs at an expected premium, the Saints quickly claimed the game's first score in the opening inning thanks to some aggressive base running by McGee. The freshman legged out what appeared to be a routine groundout to short to open the frame, advanced to second on a sacrifice, and sped home on an RBI single to left by Jonathan Crimmin.
 
White made the lead hold up until the top of the sixth when an infield single by Josh Marchese and a subsequent error brought home Max Giordano with the tying run, and ultimately send the scheduled seven-inning contest to extras.
 
But in the home half of the ninth, Siena broke through with the winning run. Matt Hamel worked a leadoff walk and Brian Kelly, who attempted to bunt him into scoring position, beat the errant throw which got away and moved both runners into scoring position. After Crimmin was intentionally walked to load the bases with nobody out, the Purple Eagles induced a pop out for the first out.
 
However pinch-hitter Alex Milone worked a five-pitch walk to force in Hamel with the winning run for the Saints which have captured 19 of the last 23 meetings between the programs, and secured their seventh series win in eight against Niagara dating back to 2011.
 
With the sweep, Siena remains one game up on red-hot Monmouth for the No. 6 spot in the MAAC Standings with now just four conference contests remaining for both squads. Additionally, the Saints pulled within a game and a half of fifth place Marist, whom Siena closes out regular season action against next weekend in Poughkeepsie. The top-six teams qualify for the MAAC Tournament in two weeks in Staten Island.
 
The Saints will look to complete an important sweep Sunday, with a special post-graduation start time of 2 p.m. at Connors Park.