PRIDE FALTER LATE, DROP 10-4 DECISION TO SIENA

3/24/2009 6:15:00 PM

Hempstead, NY -- Siena scored five runs in the top of the eighth, two on a William Cardona double, to break a 4-4 tie and go on to a 10-4 victory over the Pride Tuesday afternoon. The Pride (2-13) had scored two in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game after losing a 2-0 lead in the fifth and sixth innings. Siena, which snapped a five-game losing streak, ups its record to 3-18 on the season.

The Pride struck first, plating two runs in the second inning. Senior centerfielder Nick Panzarella (Three Bridges, NJ) led off with a single and moved to second one out later after junior infielder Dion Pouncil (Chicago, IL) was hit by a pitch. Senior first baseman Adam Perlo (Fairport, NY) delivered Panzarella home and sent Pouncil to third with a single to center. The Pride then executed a double steal with Perlo taking second and Pouncil coming in to score.

Pride starter Bobby Neelon (Needville, TX) made the lead stand up, working out of trouble in the third and fourth before surrendering a run in the fifth. A leadoff walk to Cardona started the inning and after he stole second, Anthony Giansanti singled to second to put runners on the corners. An infield hit loaded the bases with one out before Kevin Quaranto knocked in a run with a groundout to cut the Saints deficit in half.

Sophomore Anthony Gionesi (North Bellmore, NY) relieved Neelon to start the sixth and gave up a leadoff double to Brandon Curson and then hit Nick Messinger. Following a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Gionesi surrendered a three-run home run to Giansanti that gave Siena a 4-2 lead.

After a scoreless sixth frame, Hofstra tied the score in the seventh as Pouncil reached on a fielder's choice and Perlo singled. Both runners advanced on a groundout to first before senior Mark Stuckless, Hofstra's leading hitter, lined a two-run, two out single to left to score Perlo and Pouncil with the tying runs.

The lead would be short-lived as Curson led off the eighth with a double off of Hofstra's third pitcher of the day Scott A'Hara (Downingtown, PA). A walk and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for Cardona, who ripped a two-run double to right to put Siena up for good. After a pitching change, Giansanti delivered a two-run single for an 8-4 lead. After another walk and a wild pitch, Dan Paolini drove home the fifth run of the inning with a single. The Saints tacked on an additional run in the ninth, as Curson scored on an infield error.

Neelon scattered seven hits and allowed one earned run over five innings in a no-decision. A'Hara (0-3) took the loss for the Pride, allowing two hits and four earned runs in an inning-plus. Dan Pendleton (1-0) picked up the win for Siena, throwing three innings in relief and allowing three hits and two earned runs.

Perlo finished the day 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Pride, while Stuckless was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Giansanti led Siena at the plate, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, while Cardona was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Hofstra returns to action this Friday when it hosts Northeastern in the first game of a three-game CAA series. First pitch at University Field is set for 3 p.m.

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