An epic four-hour, 45-minute battle featuring 14 combined pitchers and highlight reel plays galore finished with an anti-climactic ending. Justin Lehman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the winning run as Army West Point prevailed 5-4 over Siena Baseball in an historic 16-inning marathon downstate. The 16-inning contest matched the longest game played (by innings) in program history, equaling a 52-year-old record set in 1971.
 
Siena (2-18) secured a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning, capped by the first collegiate home run by freshman Danny Barbero, a solo shot in the third. Barbero and Randall Hien each produced a pair of hits apiece to lead the Saints offensively.
 
Army West Point (8-10) broke through in the home half of the six, scratching across a pair of runs, and the Saints would maintain a 3-2 advantage into the ninth. With the Black Knights down to their final out, Ross Friedrich delivered an infield single to score Derek Berg with the tying run to send the game to extra innings.
 
Army had its first of several shots to end it in the 10^th inning but right fielder Vincenzo Castronovo, who made an outstanding diving catch in foul territory to end the seventh, came up with another clutch defensive play to send the game to the 11^th. On a fly out to right, Braden Golinski tagged up and tried to score the winning run, but Castronovo nailed him at home to keep Siena's hopes alive.
 
As often seems to be the case, the player who made an outstanding defensive play to end the previous half inning led off the next one, and Castronovo made the most of his opportunity. He sent his second home run in as many days deep over the wall in straightaway center to put the Saints back on top 4-3 in the 11^th.
 
But it was deja vu in the home half of the 11^th inning, as once again Friedrich came through with another two-out RBI infield single to knot the score at 4-4. Friedrich led the way offensively for the Black Knights, reaching base safely in six of his eight plate appearances with three hits and three walks.
 
Army had yet another chance to win it later in the frame, but with the potential winning run in scoring position with two outs, left fielder Gavin Thorburn made a miraculous over the shoulder lunging catch to extend the game further. Thorburn later made a second highlight reel diving snag to end the 15^th.
 
But the Black Knights finally ended it in the 16^th. Army worked the bases loaded with one out, and Lehman was plunked to force home Sam Ruta with the winning run.
 
Alistair Morin and Noah Rodriguez each pitched a pair of scoreless innings apiece, and Kyle Lev did not allow a run over 1.2 innings for Siena. Sebastian Bentz added a yeomanlike effort with 4.1 strong innings of relief to end the game.
 
Tyler Pritchard tossed the final four scoreless innings scattering three hits without a walk while striking out seven to earn the win for new head coach Chris Tracz. The longtime Marist skipper was also in the opposite dugout for the Saints' longest game in recent time, a 14-inning victory over the Red Foxes in 2016.
 
Despite the loss, Siena left it all on the field and has a lot to build upon heading into the start of conference play this weekend. The Saints open a three-game series at perennial conference power Fairfield Friday at 2 p.m.