Sacred Heart scored four runs apiece in both the sixth and seventh innings to break a 3-3 tie and pull away late from Siena Baseball 11-4 in the series-opener in Connecticut.
 
Sacred Heart (13-23, 10-8) batted around in both the sixth and seventh innings to put a stranglehold on what had been a competitive series-opener deep into the afternoon. The Pioneers combined for eight runs on the strength of just six total hits encompassing the two decisive frames.
 
Following three scoreless innings to start, Siena (13-24, 6-13) opened the scoring in the fourth before Sacred Heart responded in the home half of the inning. With two outs and two strikes, a wild pitch chased home the tying run, and Will Rudolph followed later in the frame with a go-ahead two-run home run.
 
The Saints chipped away thanks to the long ball to draw even at 3-3 in the sixth. Vincent Venditti went deep in the fifth, while Aidan Paradine knotted the score when he left the yard on the first pitch of the sixth inning.
 
Paradine and Jake Sparks registered a pair of hits apiece, while Venditti drove in a second run with the final Siena score in the ninth.
 
The Pioneers spread out their offense with no player recording more than two hits nor two RBI. Kyle Cincinnati scored three times.
 
Bryan Matuschat tossed the first eight innings, scattering four hits and three runs (two earned) while walking two and striking out four to earn the win for Sacred Heart.
 
The middle game of the series Saturday has been pushed up to a 10 a.m. start due to the impending weather forecast.