Seiler sets NCAA season-high in Ks
Siena pitcher fans 19 in extra-inning loss to Niagara
Siena pitcher Ben Seiler is entering uncharted territory this season.
The Saints’ big lefthander went nine innings Saturday, striking out 19 batters in an extra-inning loss to Niagara to set the NCAA mark for 2022. His effort moves him past Oregon State’s Cooper Hjerpe, who struck out 17 against Stanford on April 1.
Hjerpe had taken the title temporarily from Seiler himself, who struck out 16 four days earlier in a game against Saint Peter’s.
“I felt really good warming up in the bullpen,” said Seiler, noting that the team didn’t have to travel after last week’s games in Illinois were canceled.
The extra rest paid off. Seiler credited pitching coach Joe Sheridan with providing an excellent scouting report for Niagara, which allowed the pitcher to go “right after them.”
“I got into a different mode out there, one I haven’t been in for a while,” Seiler said. “And it turned out to be great.”
Seiler gave up five runs in the game, but only two earned, while walking three.
He remains 2-4 on the year after taking the nodecision, with a 3.74 earned-run average. He has 68 strikeouts in 55 1⁄3 innings.
Siena coach Tony Rossi echoed Seiler’s words on his mindset for the game.
“He was on target, he was cruising, everything was working for the kid. He was pretty much putting the ball where he wanted it,” Rossi said.
Rossi is hopeful that his Saints (9-25, 6-5 MAAC) can stay competitive on the year, after struggling with numerous injuries to position players and pitchers.
“We have more kids down than in all of my years at Siena,” said Rossi, who has been the coach for 53 years.
“But we’re still fighting, and we’re going to take it game-by-game.”