NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Returning to conference action for the first time in two weeks, Siena Baseball (9-24, 6-4) scored early in what turned into a marathon battle with MAAC rival Niagara (6-26, 2-8) Friday afternoon at Bobo Field in Niagara University, New York. The Saints overcame a Purple Eagle comeback to take a 10-8 victory in 11 innings to begin the three-game weekend series.
 
Taking the field at Niagara for the first time since 2017, the Saints blasted off to an early 8-0 lead after two innings, beginning with a three-run homer to dead center from redshirt-junior Brett Young in the top of the first, which preceded a pair of bases-loaded walks. Junior Bryce Mordecki produced the team's second three-run bomb in the top of the second, going back to center field to complete the visitors' early-inning surge.
 
Working behind a whopping nine different pitchers throughout the course of the game, Niagara settled in and slowly clawed back beginning with a pair of RBI singles to make it 8-3 in the home half of the third. Two more RBI singles in the fourth and sixth, respectively, brought the home team closer, while a solo home run to right field in the seventh put the game's difference at a single run. Niagara finally completed an eight-run comeback with a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the Saints to their first extra-inning affair of the season.
 
Following a four-inning no-decision from senior Mike McCully which featured five strikeouts, Siena received a marathon relief outing from senior right-hander Arlo Marynczak, who went on to turn in seven innings of relief ball, facing 29 batters on 125 total pitches. Despite Niagara's comeback effort, Marynczak would prove to be the hero, tying a career-high ten strikeouts, including four in extra innings.
 
After stranding runners on second and third in the tenth, the Saints loaded up the bases in the eleventh and cashed in on a two-out, bases-loaded walk that sent in senior Vincenzo Castronovo as the game's winning run. The game would reach its final score of 10-8 on the following batter, when Young was plunked on a payoff pitch to allow freshman Noah Rodriguez to cross home plate. Marynczak (3-3) finished off Niagara with a strikeout looking to preserve the Saints' win in its longest game by innings in over three years. Siena won despite the home team holding a 14-10 advantage in hits, with Young and Mordecki each registering three hits apiece.
 
Siena will now aim for the series victory in game two of the weekend series on Saturday, April 23 at 2 PM.