Saints Hold Off Bobcats in Extra Innings to Advance to Championship Finals
MAAC Sports
FISHKILL, N.Y. – In what would turn out to be a thrilling ending to the first semifinal matchup in the 2015 MAAC Baseball Championship, the Siena Saints defeated the Quinnipiac Bobcats 6-5 in ten innings of play. The Bobcats will return to Dutchass Stadium at 7pm tonight May, 22 to face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between top seeded Rider and second seeded Canisius. Siena will return to play in the championship final tomorrow, May 23 at 12pm. The Saints have made it to the championship final each of their last five appearances in the MAAC Baseball Championship.
Siena put runs on the board in the first inning as they crossed two over the plate to start the game. Quinnipiac starter Wyatt Hamilton had a difficult time finding the strike zone early on, walking the first two batters of the matchup, Siena’s Dan Swain and Jordan Bishop. Hamilton induced a double play getting Justin Esquerra to pop a bunt attempt in the air and catching the runner on second for two quick outs. Saint’s Brian Fay tripled to deep right center to score Bishop from first base to give Siena an early 1-0 lead. In the next at bat, catcher Dave Hoffman singled to right center driving in Fay for a 2-0 cushion heading into the field.
Siena starter Ed Lewicki started strong facing the minimum through the third inning allowing just one hit up until that point. The Quinnipiac offense could not get started in the early innings. After two quick one, two, three innings, Siena returned to the plate in the third and extended their lead. With one out, Bishop doubled down the right field line and Esquerra singled to center to drive him in for a 3-0 advantage. Fay came to the plate and singled through the right side to move Esquerra to third, putting runners on the corners with one out. Following a Hoffman hit by pitch, Drpich hit a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded to score Esquerra putting the Saints ahead 4-0.
Taylor Luciani came in to relieve Hamilton for Quinnipiac and was able to get the Bobcats out of a jam. Luciani was effective, getting his first five outs using just seven pitches. In the bottom of the fifth the Bobcats were able to strike, as Robbie Pescitelli singled to right field and Ben Gibson followed with a double to left center scoring Pescitelli to close the scoring gap and make the game 4-1.
After a quick sixth inning, Siena added their fifth run of the game beginning with a Swain double down the left field line. Following an Esquerra walk, Fay singled down the left field line bringing in Swain from second to take a 5-1 lead. Luciani would get through the ninth inning without allowing another run giving the Bobcats a chance to mount a comeback attempt down four runs.
Lewicki started the ninth inning for the Saints, but was relieved by Kyano Cummings after giving up three consecutive singles. With the bases loaded, Cummings got Vincent Guglietti to ground into a fielder’s choice scoring Mike Palladino bringing the score 5-2. A catcher’s interference call re-loaded the bases for Quinnipiac. Cummings had trouble finding the strike zone, walking three consecutive batters to allow Quinnipiac to tie the game 5-5 as Donaghue, Gugletti and Ianotti scored. After a failed suicide squeeze, Siena was able to get out of the inning with the tie still intact.
Siena stepped up to the plate in the top of the tenth and outfielder Dan Lowndes singled up the middle. With one out on a sacrifice bunt, Swain singled to center field scoring Lowndes to give the Saints a 6-5 advantage. Cummings came back into the game to close out the tenth and was able to find the control he lacked in the prior inning putting the Bobcats down in order to advance Siena into the championship final as they look to defend their title as MAAC champions.
Cummings got the win for the Saints, and Lewicki finished throwing eight innings allowing seven hits giving up four runs, three earned with two strikeouts while walking none. Fay finished four for five with two runs batted in and also scored a run.
For the Bobcats, Luciano threw six and one-third innings giving up one run on five hits and two walks. Gibson finished his day two for three with two runs batted in.
Tickets for the MAAC Baseball Championship are on sale now at the Dutchess Stadium box office. Admission will be $20 per day for adults and $5 per day for kids 12 and under. All seating is general admission.
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