LOUDONVILLE, NY – On a day where he extended his on-base streak to 30 straight,
Zach Durfee capped a four-hit performance with a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to earn Siena Baseball a split of its non-conference doubleheader with Northeastern at Connors Park. The Huskies took the first game 6-4, with the Saints capturing the nightcap with the 4-3 walk-off.
Game One: Northeastern 6, Siena 4
Siena (15-27) scored four unanswered runs and had the tying runs aboard in the ninth, but couldn't overcome an early six-run hole. Northeastern (21-25) pounded out 15 hits highlighted by a five-run, six-hit fifth to capture the opener.
The Huskies recorded 11 of their 15 hits over a two-inning span in the third and fifth innings. Northeastern opened the scoring by salvaging a run on an RBI single by Jake Farrell in the third, before breaking things open with a three-run home run by Scott Holzwasser to highlight the fifth.
The Saints battled back with a pair of two-run singles in the sixth by
Alex Milone and
Yasser Santana.
Dylan D'Anna gave Siena a chance with a strong relief effort, surrendering just one unearned run over 4.1 innings while striking out five.
Game Two: Siena 4, Northeastern 3
Durfee served a 2-0 pitch from Northeastern closer Andrew Misiaszek into the right centerfield gap with one-out in the bottom of the ninth to score
Tim Carroll and
Evan St. Claire with the winning runs.
The teams had traded single runs in the first and seventh innings of a pitcher's duel before Cam Walsh recorded the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth for the Huskies.
But the Saints responded with a decisive final at-bat. Pinch hitter
Matt Hamel opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt attempt by Carroll who also reached. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs, and a hit batsmen loaded the bases for Durfee who won it for Siena against a Northeastern squad which earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament last spring.
Carroll and
Devan Kruzinski each tallied a pair of hits while
Brian Kelly added an RBI single to extend his on-base streak to 28 consecutive games.
Brendan White allowed just one run over six innings while striking out six in a no-decision for the Saints which were facing their former ECAC foe for the first time in over 30 years.
The rubber game of the series is set for Sunday at noon.
