peahens believe in miracles!!
saint peter's pulls off biggest comeback
in maac tournament history
STRATFORD, CT (May 10, 2007) – The #2 Saint Peter's College Peahens (22-21) pulled of the greatest comeback in the MAAC Tournament history this afternoon, defeating the #3 Niagara University Purple Eagles (18-19) 13-11 in game one of the 2007 MAAC Championships at DeLuca Field in Stratford, CT. The Peahens scored 12 unanswered runs in the fifth and six innings to earn the victory. Ariana Payan's single in the sixth drove in eventual two winning runs to break an 11-11 tie and give the Peahens their first lead of the game.
The game did not start out well for Saint Peter's, as Niagara put up a four-spot in the first. Saint Peter's got on the board in the second as Meg Papierniak knocked in MAAC Player of the Year, Julie Saporito to make the score 4-1. Niagara got the run back in the fourth to extend their advantage to 5-1. The Purple Eagles then blew the game open, plating six runs in the fifth to take an 11-1 lead. The Peahens were down to their final two outs in the bottom of the fifth, when Chrissy Gannon, named Second Team All-MAAC this morning, hit a three-run homer over the centerfield fence to make the score 11-4. Niagara was retired in order in the sixth. The Peahens then came to bat and the comeback was on.
With one out, Jessica LaBovick got her first collegiate hit. Payan and Crowell then each hit singles to load the bases. Niagara pitcher Trish McCrory then walked the next two batters, forcing in two runs and making the score 11-6. Starter Brook Viola re-entered the game and promptly gave up an RBI single to Saporito, 11-7. Michelle Casares then hit a two-run single and advanced to second on an error, 11-9. Tricia Reingle then hit an RBI single just out of the reach of the shortstop, 11-10. Papierniak then knocked in her second run of the game with a single, 11-11. LaBovick, batting for the second time in the sixth, was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Payan then hit a soft liner over the second base bag that scored Reingle and Papierniak, giving Saint Peter's their first lead 13-11. In all, the Peahens sent 14 batters to the plate, 12 in a row reaching base scored nine runs on eight hits and took the lead.
LaBovick retired the Purple Eagles in order in the seventh, earning the victory and securing the 13-11 win. LaBovick (4-3) pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two hits and two unearned runs, while striking out two. Gannon had four RBI in the contest, while Casares, Papierniak and Payan each drove in two. Six Peahens had multiple hits.
Saint Peter's moves on and will play tomorrow morning at 11am for a chance to advance to Saturday's Championship Game. The game can be heard live tomorrow morning at 10am at www.redzonemedia.com.
