HOWELL, Mich. -- The Siena Heights baseball team took on Cleary in WHAC action and split the doubleheader for the second time this season. In game one, Cleary won 10-6, and in game two the Saints won 14-12. The Saints will be back in action on Wednesday, April, 10th vs University of Northwestern (Ohio). The first pitch will start at noon EDT and game two will start at approximately 3:00 PM EDT following game one.
Game One: Cleary 10, Siena Heights 6
Nick Tiller led the Saints at bat going 2-for-2 scoring one run. Also having a solid day at bat was Adam Wilding going 2-for-3, and Kenny Layman going 2-for-4.
On the mound, Kenny Layman pitched the first three innings forcing two strikeouts. Garret Smith stepped up next to the mound as he forced one strikeout in the fourth inning. John Millen relieved for the Saints as he forced two strikeouts in the losing effort in game one.
Cole VanWasshenova started the Saints out scoring as he hit a single RBI to bring Gino Hutchinson home at the top of the first. The Saints then scored again at the first at-bat when Adam Wilding scored after Brock Olmstead grounded out. At the second at-bat, Cleary scored three runs to come out of the first inning 3-2.
At the top of the second, the Saints' batting continued their hot play as Gino Hutchinson hit a two-RBI triple to regain the lead for the Saints at 4-3. Next, Adam Wilding hit a single RBI sending Gino Hutchinson home again. In the fifth inning, Kenny Layman scored on a wild pitch. To end game one, the Saints did not score the rest of the game as Cleary scored seven straight runs to win 10-6.
Game Two: Siena Heights 14, Cleary 12
In game 2, Nick Tiller went 4-for-4 at bat. Adam Wilding and Aidan Grinstead also had solid at-bats, both going 3-for-5.
On the mound, Ben Weadock led the Saints off playing the first two innings and forcing one strikeout. Christian Smolen was credited with the win in game 2, forcing one strikeout and playing two innings. Nick Tiller was credited with the save forcing one strikeout and playing the final inning.
Kenny Layman started the scoring for the Saints as he hit a single RBI, sending Adam Wilding home at the top of the first inning. At the top of the second, Adam Wilding hit a two-RBI single sending Nick Tiller and Cole Mason home, to extend the Saints' lead at 5-1. Later at-bat, Adam Wilding hit a sacrifice fly RBI to send Brayden Hill home to extend the lead at 6-1 going into the bottom of the third.
Cleary then scored eight unanswered runs to go up 9-6 after five innings. Kenny Layman broke the scoring drought as he hit a two-RBI home run to pull the Saints within one at 9-8 at the top of the sixth innings. At the top of the seventh, the Saints were still trailing by two at 10-8, until Adam Wilding hit a two-RBI triple to send Brayden Hill and Nick Tiller home to tie the game at 10-10. The Saints then regained the lead later in the at-bat as Cole VanWasshenova hit a sacrifice fly RBI, sending Adam Wilding home.
In the eighth inning, the Saints finalized their scoring, as Thomas Bakoway hit a double-RBI sending Cole Mason home on an unearned run. To seal the deal at bat for the Saints was Nick Tiller, hitting a two-RBI home run to right-center to put the Saints up 14-10. Cleary managed to score two more runs, but it was not enough as the Saints split the double-header series.
