Stony Brook scored a pair of runs in the seventh to forge ahead in the opener and added two more to walk off in the ninth in the nightcap to sweep series-opening doubleheader action from Siena Baseball on Long Island. The Seawolves won by scores of 3-2 and 10-9, respectively.
Game One: Stony Brook 3, Siena 2
Erik Paulsen capped a two-run seventh with the go-ahead RBI single as Stony Brook (6-7) rallied to win the opener.
Siena (0-11) registered three of its five hits in the pitchers' duel in the half-inning prior to claim a 2-1 lead on an RBI single by
Randall Hien, who was then forced in with the go-ahead run on a throwing error.
But that was all the Saints could muster against the likes of Eddie Smink and Paulsen. Smink struck out 12 over 6.1 innings, while Paulsen doubled down on the victory with 2.2 shutout innings to secure the save.
Alistair Morin went six strong innings scattering just three hits and a run in a no-decision for Siena.
Austin Rachiele registered three of the five hits for the Saints, reaching base in all four plate appearances while finishing just a home run shy of a cycle.
Game Two: Stony Brook 10, Siena 9
Johnny Pilla delivered the walk-off RBI single to cap a two-run ninth inning rally as the Seawolves secured the doubleheader sweep with a wild Game Two triumph.
After going nine up and nine down and trailing 3-0 through the first three innings, Siena batted around sending 10 men to the plate during a five-run fifth. The Saints registered five hits in the frame, highlighted by four RBI singles.
Stony Brook responded with five unanswered runs encompassing the fifth and sixth innings to go back in front, and held an 8-6 lead heading into the ninth.
With their backs against the wall, Siena mounted a furious ninth inning rally. Each of the first five batters reached base safely, with
Nick Bergamotto and two-time reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week
Tyler Figueroa delivering back-to-back singles to knot the score. The Saints then came all the way back to reclaim the lead when Bergamotto scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
But the Seawolves struck last in their final at-bat. Back-to-back doubles opened the frame to tie things up yet again, with the latter advancing to third on an error with nobody out. After Siena recorded the first out, however, Pilla came through with the walk-off winner.
Four different Saints – Bergamotto, Figueroa,
Gavin Thorburn, and Hien – each tallied a pair of hits apiece as part of a 12-hit effort.
Cam Santerre went a perfect 4-4 with four runs scored to pace Stony Brook offensively.
Siena will look to break through in its 2024 Empire State debut in the series finale Saturday at noon.
