Canisius Advances to MAAC Baseball Championship Round; Monmouth and Siena to Play Game 3 Following Doubleheader Split

5/21/2021 10:37:34 PM

No. 2 Monmouth University vs. No. 7 Siena College
2021 MAAC Baseball Championship – Quarterfinal Round
MU Baseball Field | West Long Branch, NJ

Game 1 – Siena 13, Monmouth 5
Game 2 – Monmouth 14, Siena 2

It was a pair of one-sided games between No. 2 Monmouth University (23-11, 22-10 MAAC) and No. 7 Siena College (15-23, 14-22 MAAC) as they split their Friday doubleheader. Siena’s 13 runs guided them to victory in the opening game, as six Saints drove in one or more runs and every batter recorded at least one hit. The Saints’ outburst on offense comes after being outscored 26-1 by Monmouth in their four-game series back on April 2-3.

Monmouth would respond in Game 2 by putting up 14 runs. 2021 MAAC Rookie of the Year Dixon Black would go yard twice in the game, hitting a pair of two-run homers in the 1^st and 8^th innings. On the mound, Trey Dombroski would tie his career high in strikeouts with 10, as his 6 2/3 innings of work would aid the Hawks in their rebound and force a decisive third game in the quarterfinal series.

Game 3 between Monmouth and Siena is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 22 at the MU Baseball Field in West Long Beach, NJ. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Monmouth Notes – Game 1

This was the first time Monmouth has hosted a game in the MAAC Baseball Championship since becoming a conference member.
James Harmstead’s two RBI would lead the way for the Hawks. He would also hit the team’s lone home run, a two-run blast, in the third inning that would give Monmouth a one-run lead, 3-2.
Jake Catalano, Jalen Jenkins, and Johnny Zega each tallied one RBI.

Monmouth Notes – Game 2

Black’s four RBI was both the game-high and his career-high.
Five Hawks would record two or more RBI for the game: Black (4), Alex Barker (3), James Harmstead (2), Jalen Jenkins (2), and Brady Mutz (2).
Stephen Aldrich would close out the game for Monmouth, allowing no Siena runs over 2 1/3 innings. He would also strike out three and not walk a single batter.

Siena Notes – Game 1

Siena starter Connor Bovair tallied 10 K’s in seven innings of work, giving up five earned runs and seven hits as the Saints’ run support helped him get the decision.
Donovan Montgomery and Evan St. Claire tied for the game-high with three RBI. Pat O’Hare and Matt Livingston each drove in two runs.
Every batter on the Saints managed to cross home plate at least one time during the game, with six recording multi-hit games.

Siena Notes – Game 2

Carson Dunkel (1) and Eddy Sweeney (1) tallied the only RBIs for Siena.

Eight players got at least one hit for the afternoon, with Devan Kruzinski, Pat O'Hare, and Bryce Porter each finishing the game with two hits.

No. 4 Canisius College vs. No. 5 Marist College
2021 MAAC Baseball Championship – Quarterfinal Round
Demske Sports Complex | Buffalo, NY

Game 3 – Canisius 10, Marist 7

Mike Mazzara’s fifth-inning grand slam got Canisius College rolling on offense, as he helped the fourth-seeded Golden Griffins (19-14, 17-13 MAAC) to defeat No. 5 Marist College (18-11, 17-9 MAAC), 10-7, and clinch a spot in the 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship Round. Mazzara was the star on offense for Canisius, going 4-for-4 on the day with five RBI. On the mound, the Griffs called upon five different pitchers to help slow down the Marist bats, including key relief performances from Matt Duffy, Jarod Burmaster, and a shut-down ninth inning from Ryan Boyer to earn his first collegiate save.

Canisius now advances to the championship round in Fairfield, CT, where their opponent is to be determined.

Canisius Notes – Game 3

Duffy, coming in replacement of starter Will Frank, would quiet the Marist offense with 3 1/3 shutout innings of work. Burmaster, the winning pitcher for Canisius, pitched 2 2/3 innings while only surrendering two runs to maintain the Griffs’ lead.
Mazzara’s five RBI was the game-high. Runs were also driven in by Kyle Kush (2), Vinny Chiarenza (1), Carlin Dick (1), and Jacob Victor (1).
Mazzara’s four hits and Max Grant’s two were the only multi-hit performances for Canisius.

Marist Notes – Game 3

The Marist offense would get going early with two home runs in the top of the first by Tyler Kapuscins and Brian Hart. The duo would combine to tally six of the Red Foxes’ 14 hits, and drive in five of their seven runs.
Robbie Armitage, Dylan Hoy, and Matt Rubayo each reached base three times with two hits and one walk.
Rubayo and Nico Amory each tallied an RBI.

The 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship continues with the conclusion of the Quarterfinal Round on Saturday, May 22. The 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship Round is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 26. For more information on the 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship, visit MAACSports.com/baseball.

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40^th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.