LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Baseball made its Connors Park debut Friday, splitting a series-opening doubleheader with reigning Northeast Conference Champion and MAAC newcomer Sacred Heart. The Saints prevailed 4-3 in the opener, while the Pioneers took the nightcap 14-2.
Game 1: Siena 4, Sacred Heart 3
Staff ace
Alistair Morin continued his sensational spring with seven strong innings to pitch Siena (6-18, 3-5) to victory in the series opener. Morin out-dueled Joey Trombley, scattering seven hits and three runs (two earned), while walking two and striking out three to secure his second win of the season.
The Saints strung together four first inning singles to scratch across the opening run. But Trombley settled in, retiring 10 straight at one point to allow Sacred Heart (12-12, 7-4) to rally. The Pioneers plated a pair in the fourth to go in front on a two-run double from Tim McGuire.
Siena drew even at 2-2 on an
Aidan Paradine two-out RBI single in the fifth. Paradine and
Jeremy Sangalang each recorded multi-hit efforts in the win for the Saints.
Sacred Heart went back on top in the seventh, but Morin limited the damage. He escaped a first and third no-out jam, allowing just the one run while keeping Siena close.
That allowed the Saints to rally one final time with a decisive bottom half of the seventh.
Jake Sparks pulled Siena even with his team-leading fifth home run of the season, while
Nick Bergamotto delivered the deciding at-bat, working a bases loaded walk to force in what proved to be the winning run.
Tyler Sausville wrapped things up with a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn his first save with the Saints.
Game 2: Sacred Heart 14, Siena 2
Sacred Heart delivered a decisive six-run first and added plenty of insurance late to even the series.
Peter Link homered, scored three times, and drove in four runs to pace a Pioneers offense which registered 13 hits in the nightcap. No. 9 hitter Zach Kovalchik added three hits and three RBI, while Gavin Donohue also contributed a three-hit performance.
Sacred Heart wasted no time in Game Two, batting around while sending 10 men to the plate in the first. The Pioneers only registered three hits in the six-run frame, but were the beneficiaries of a costly error which resulted in five of the runs being unearned.
Nolan Puglisi gave Siena a chance to rally, tossing 4.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen. The sophomore has now registered 8.1 scoreless frames spanning an impressive week.
But the Saints couldn't take advantage and a second Sacred Heart wave added five more runs in the seventh as the Pioneers pulled away late.
Paradine registered his first collegiate home run in the fourth and
Noah Brooks tallied an RBI single in the ninth to account for the Siena scoring.
Due to this weekend's inclement weather forecast, the date and time of the series finale will be determined Saturday morning. The teams will aim to wrap things up either Saturday or by the Sunday deadline.
