Siena Rallies To Defeat Canisius, 6-5, To Force Deciding Final Game
MAAC Sports
LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Number two seed Siena College rallied for five runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat top-seeded Canisius College 6-5 and force an 11th and deciding game in the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Baseball Championship on Sunday (May 25) at FirstEnergy Park.
Canisius and Siena will square off at 3:40 on Sunday, May 25, in the winner take all game to determine the 2014 MAAC Baseball Champion.
Canisius, the defending MAAC Champion, appeared to have the game in hand when it came back from a 1-0 deficit to tie the score with run in the bottom of the sixth, and three more in the seventh, to take a 4-1 advantage.
However, Siena plated five runs on five hits in the top of the eighth off Iannick Remillard, who came in to relieve Canisius starter Devon Stewart, who had scattered four hits and allowed one run in seven innings. Siena loaded the bases as Vincent Citro, Mike Allen and John Rooney singled, and then Brian Fay ripped a two-run double down the right field line to cut the lead to 4-3. A wild pitch scored Rooney to tie the game, followed by Dan Swain’s run scoring sacrifice fly to right field, and Dave Hoffman’s RBI single.
Canisius rallied to score once in the bottom of the ninth but eventually came up short. Jose Torralba led off the inning with a base hit, and after Steve Massicci lined out to center, Jimmy Luppens was hit by a pitch. Ryan Coppinger then ripped a double to right field to score Torralba to cut the lead to one run, 6-5. Connor Panas was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Siena recorded its fifth double play of the afternoon to end the rally. Jesse Kelso shot an infield grounder down the first base line, which Siena first baseman Citro scooped up to throw Luppens out at home. Catcher Dave Hoffman threw Kelso out at first base to end the game.
Citro collected three hits in five trips to the plate, while Hoffman was 2-for-4 and had two RBI. Neil Fryer earned his eighth save of the season, and his first of the Championship along with two victories, for Siena (25-31). Freshman lefty Chris Amorosi pitched an effective 4.1 innings for the Saints, making his first start of the season in the pressure sitation. He allowed no runs on five hits.
The loss snapped a 18-game win streak by Canisius, which was the longest in the nation. Torralba had two hits and scored twice for the Golden Griffins (40-15), while Massicci and Panas each had two hits. Canisius stranded 10 runners.
Siena, which lost to Canisius in last year’s title game, is seeking its first MAAC Baseball Championship since 1999.