SCHENECTADY, NY – Siena Baseball overcame a six-run deficit in the first game while Niagara rallied with five runs in the ninth in Game Two as the teams split a wild doubleheader at Central Park. The Saints won 10-9 in 10 innings in the opener while the Purple Eagles took the nightcap 9-6 to capture the rubber game and take the series.
Game One: Siena 10, Niagara 9 (10)
Sean Camacho delivered the walk-off RBI single in the 10
th inning as Siena (7-13, 3-6) rallied from six down to take the middle game of the series.
Niagara (7-11, 3-3) took charge early with a five-run first and led 7-2 midway through before the Saints made their run. Leadoff hitter Jacob Brooks paced the Purple Eagles with three hits, while Tyler Vivacqua knocked in three.
Siena drew even in the fifth with a five-run frame of its own. Leadoff man
Vincent Venditti started the charge with a two-run double.
The teams traded late leads. Down to their final out, No. 9 hitter Jason Green delivered the game-tying RBI double to tie things for Niagara at 9-9 in the ninth.
In the extra frame, Camacho lined a ball past the diving leftfielder to score Venditti with the winning run.
The Saints registered 13 total hits, with
Matt Thorsen leading the way with four singles.
Aidan Paradine was on base four times with a pair of hits and walks, while scoring twice.
JT Gunzy went the final five innings in relief, scattering just three hits and one run to earn the win for Siena.
Game Two: Niagara 9, Siena 6
Niagara rallied with five runs on five hits in the ninth to take the rubber game and capture the series.
Jake Sparks hit the go-ahead two-run single in the eighth to put Siena in position in a back-and-forth nightcap with a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame.
But the Purple Eagles batted around, sending 10 men to the plate in the decisive inning. Each of the first four Niagara batters reached base safely, and Brooks punctuated a huge afternoon with the go-ahead two-out, two-run single. Brooks added four more hits and three total RBI in the nightcap for the Purple Eagles which pounded out 16 total hits.
Gavin Thorburn and
Joe D'Elia paced the Saints offensively with a pair of hits and a stolen base apiece.
Siena continues its mini homestand when the Saints host Stony Brook in midweek action Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Connors Park.