LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Baseball erupted for its largest margin of victory in 15 years thanks to its highest scoring output in 13 years in a 20-1 total domination of Dartmouth which mercifully ended in seven innings at Connors Park.
Siena (8-29, 2-7) scored three or more runs in four of their six innings at bat, punctuated by a pair of six-run frames in both the second and fifth. The 19-run margin of victory was the program's largest dating back to a 24-3 MAAC Tournament triumph over Manhattan on May 22, 2008.
The Saints matched a season-high with 15 hits despite the mercy-rule shortened contest to power the program's most runs scored in a game since a 21-14 win at NYIT on Mar. 20, 2010.
Aiden Stewart set the tone out of the leadoff spot, reaching base safely in all five plate appearances. He went a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish – finishing just a double short of a cycle – while scoring four times, homering, and knocking in six runs. Seven different Siena players scored multiple runs, five knocked in two runs or more, and four registered multi-hit performances.
Danny Barbero provided a sign of things to come with a mammoth three-run homer in the first, before the Saints quickly put the game away with a six-run second inning onslaught. Siena sent 12 men to the plate in the frame despite tallying just three hits, methodically manufacturing a commanding 9-0 advantage.
Stewart delivered a two-run triple to highlight a five-run fourth, and capped a six-run fifth with a three-run homer as the Saints snapped a six-game losing streak against Dartmouth (1-28, 0-12) with their first win over the Big Green in 15 years.
Five Siena pitchers combined to scatter four hits while collectively striking out five.
Off to a strong start to their marathon five-game week, the Saints will look to keep their momentum going when they return to conference action this weekend. Siena opens a three-game series at Iona Friday at 3 p.m. in New Rochelle, New York.