LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Baseball continued a nine-game homestand with a walk-off win as part of a Senior Day split to cap a weekend series at Connors Park. The Saints (9-34, 5-13) took a 3-2 win over the Jaspers (17-28, 9-12) before falling, 10-2, in the rubber match on Saturday afternoon in doubleheader action.
The Green and Gold paid homage to graduating members
Randall Hien,
Joey Laurer,
Austin Rachiele Willie Schwarick, and
Kobe Stenson prior to the start of game one as part of their Senior Day activities.
Siena 3, Manhattan 2
Both teams struck early on via RBI singles, with freshman
Tyler Figueroa singling down the right field line to send in sophomore
Nick Bergamotto to knot the game at one in the bottom of the first. Working behind a pair of quality starts from each pitcher, the game entered the fifth inning tied before Manhattan went up via an RBI single through the right site to take a 2-1 lead.
After retiring the side in-order in the top of the sixth, Siena quickly answered in the bottom of the sixth by loading up the bases with two outs for Stenson to send in Rachiele on an RBI single. The teams then battled into the ninth with Manhattan stranding a pair on-base in the seventh and Siena doing the same in the eighth. After loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Bergamotto proved to be the hero by scoring sophomore
Sean Camacho on a sacrifice fly.
The home team held an 11-5 hits advantage in their ninth one-run game of the season and fifth in MAAC play, with Figueroa led four Saints with multiple hits to go 3-4 from the plate with an RBI, while
Arnad Mulamekic fanned a collegiate-best nine batters in seven no-decision innings.
Connor Byrne (3-3) took the win on the mound with four strikeouts In two perfect innings of relief.
Manhattan 10, Siena 2
The Jaspers used the series rubber match to break things open in the middle innings and keep their postseason hopes alive. Following three scoreless innings, the visitors used three RBI singles, a two RBI double, and a fielding error to push across seven runs and take hold of the lead for good.
Siena finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth with Schawick plating sophomore
Danny Barbero on a sacrifice fly. The Saints stranded runners on-base in four of the final five innings, however, while Manhattan drew a bases loaded hit-by-pitch, bases loaded walk, and an RBI ground out to extend the lead to 10-1 in the eighth. The Saints found one more run in the eight off an RBI ground out from Bergamotto that scored Hien, but could not come any closer.
Manhattan held a 10-6 hits advantage and capitalized on four Siena errors, with Hein recording multiple hits to lead the home team.
Noah Rodriguez (1-3) took the loss with four strikeouts in three and two-third innings, while
Tyler Tilton fanned five in three and one-third innings as part of a contingent of six different Siena pitchers used.
The Saints will continue a season-long home stand by hosting crosstown rival UAlbany in Loudonville on Wednesday, May 8, with doubleheader action beginning at 1 PM.
