LOUDONVILLE, NY – Sacred Heart erupted for 12 unanswered runs – 10 of which came over the final two innings – to rally past Siena Baseball 12-4 in the rubber game Saturday afternoon at Connors Park.
Siena (6-19, 3-6) jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four innings and still held a 4-2 advantage through seven thanks to strong pitching and timely hitting.
Holden Phelps scattered four hits and one run while walking three and striking out five over six solid on the mound, while No. 9 hitter
Gavin Thorburn came through with a two-out, two-run double to highlight a three-run fourth.
But the Sacred Heart (13-12, 8-4) bats came alive against the Saints bullpen late, batting around in each of the final two innings.
The Pioneers stormed ahead with a six-run eighth, punctuated by a game-tying two run homer from Ronan Donohue, and capped by a decisive three-run blast by Dante D'Amore. Sacred Heart then put it away with a four-run ninth, including back-to-back home runs by Zach Kovalchik and Gavin Donohue.
Jake Sparks homered for the second straight day for Siena, while
Aidan Paradine capped a .500 week at the plate with a pair of doubles while reaching base safely four times.
Switch pitcher PJ Rogan, the MAAC leader in ERA, tossed 5.1 scoreless out of the bullpen to earn the win in relief for the Pioneers.
The Saints return to action when they host crosstown rival UAlbany Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Connors Park.
