University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Siena
Grand Slam Lifts Siena Past UMass, 9-4
April 12, 2011 | Baseball
April 12, 2011
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The UMass baseball team erased an early 3-0 deficit, but All-American Dan Paolini's sixth inning grand slam lifted Siena to a 9-4 win over the Minutemen at Siena Field on Tuesday afternoon. Following the loss, the Minutemen are 9-15 on the season, while the Saints improve to 11-21.
Siena loaded the bases in the top of the first, but managed just one run to take a 1-0 lead. John Rooney singled to right center and moved up to third following a hit batter and a walk. With one out, Larry Balkwill plated the run with a fly ball to left.
Vincent Citro then pushed the Saints lead to 3-0 in to bottom of the second with a two-out single to right that brought home Ken Kirshner and Andrew Sawyer. Kirshner was hit by a pitch and Andrew Sawyer reached with a single to right to begin the inning.
UMass tied things up at 3-3 in the top of the third. Sophomore Anthony Serino led off the inning with a single to left and, following a walk to senior Eric Fredette, senior Matt Gedman tripled down the right field line to score the pair. Gedman then came in for the tying run on a sacrifice fly by junior Tom Conley.
However, Siena answered promptly by scoring for a third straight inning. Paolini, walked, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before Kirshner knocked him in with a two-out single to right that gave the Saints a 4-3 advantage.
The Minutemen once again pulled level with the Saints in top of the fifth. Serino led off with a single to center, moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Fredette, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a single to center by senior Peter Copa.
Siena broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth with one swing of the bat. After Tyler Bell reached on a fielder's choice, Rooney was hit by a pitch and Citro legged out an infield single, Paolini lofted a pitch over the fence in right for a grand slam to become the school's all-time home run leader.
Paolini later added the Saints' ninth run in the bottom of the eighth as he doubled to right center and scored on an RBI single by Kevin Quaranto.
Allowing four runs on four hits in four innings on the hill, junior Ben Hart took the loss (0-1) out of the bullpen for UMass. He struck out three and walked three in his outing. C.J. Sohl collected the win (2-1) on the mound for Siena as he worked 2.2 scoreless innings and let up three hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Serino and Gedman combined for six of the Minutemen's eight hits on the afternoon with Serino finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Gedman went 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to a team season-long 11 games and collected two RBI, while also scoring a run.
Paolini led the charge for the Saints, batting 3-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored. Citro went 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored once.
UMass will be back in action tomorrow, Apr. 13, taking on Boston College at 3 p.m. on Earl Lorden Field.
