May 20, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Loudonville, N.Y. - The Siena baseball team is set for their first appearance in the MAAC Tournament since 2005 when they travel to Trenton, N.J. for the start of Championship play on Thursday at 2 p.m. against #2 seed Manhattan. Each and every one of the Saints games during the double elimination tournament can be heard online at SienaSaints.com.

Mike Demos and Jason Rich will have the call of all the action in the tournament opener Thursday against the Jaspers. The Pregame Show begins at 1:45 p.m. and will be broadcast on WVCR 88.3 FM as well as online at SienaSaints.com.

Subsequent games on Friday and Saturday can be heard exclusively on SienaSaints.com through the All-Access platform. To listen to the broadcasts fans will need to subscribe for the Siena All-Access package for the low rate of $6.95 per month. SienaSaints.com All-Access allows Saints fans to gain access to audio and video of a variety of Siena sporting events, press conferences and other special features.

The Saints enter the MAAC Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country having won 18 of their past 20 games. Moreover, the squad has been unbeaten in the month of May and won 10 in a row overall, one short of the program record of 11 consecutive wins set in 2001.

Siena finished the regular season 27-24 overall and won 10 of its last 11 MAAC games to conclude conference play at 15-8 in qualifying for the programs eighth MAAC Championships appearance since joining the league in 1990.

The Saints have boasted an impressive 14-7 overall record in their previous seven trips to the conference tournament and have captured the MAAC crown in 1995, '96, '97. '99. Siena, the #3 seed in the four team field, will also be looking to secure its first NCAA Regional appearance since 1999.

Thursday's opponent Manhattan has been equally impressive down the stretch, having also won 10 in a row and 16 of their last 20. The Jaspers (31-18-1, 19-5) clinched a share of the MAAC Regular Season Championship with Canisius by virtue of sweeping Fairfield to end the regular season.

Manhattan took two of three meetings this season from the Saints, with Siena capturing the series opener in Riverdale on Apr. 6 by a 16-10 margin, thanks in large part to Rick Seltzer's two homer, eight RBI performance.

Siena's last MAAC Tournament win came against the Jaspers in the opening game of the 2005 Championships in which Siena great John Lannan pitched the Saints to a 5-0 victory.

In the double elimination format, Siena will play either one or two games on Friday, potentially against #1 seed Canisius (40-11, 19-5) or #4 seed Rider (26-25, 13-10). Siena took two of three earlier in the season from the Golden Griffins and swept the Broncs on the road earlier this month.

Friday's potential game times are 11, 3 and 7 and should the Saints advance to Saturday, the championship game would be held at 1 p.m. with a potential second championship game if needed at 4 p.m. All Siena broadcasts begin with the Pregame Show 15 minutes prior to first pitch.

To view the complete version of Siena baseball's MAAC Tournament media guide, click on the link at the top of the page.