Junior Reed Eastley

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team continues its road schedule when it swings down to Pittsburgh to play a doubleheader Wednesday with the University of Pittsburgh at Trees Field. It will be the home opener for the Panthers and first pitch is at 1 p.m. and the second game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.

The Purple Eagles enter the doubleheader with a 2-11 record after being swept by the University of Maine this past weekend in Maryland. Pittsburgh is 9-3 on the season and completed a 14-game road swing with a 10-6 win over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Rider March 14. The Panthers have had their last four games cancelled, including a three-game series with MAAC foe Canisius. Pittsburgh plays at Ohio today.

Niagara is led offensively by junior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Manitoba) who is hitting .291 with a team-leading 14 hits, including a team-best five doubles and five home runs. The shortstop has a squad-best 15 runs batted in and is one of only two Purple Eagles who have played all 13 games.

Sophomore Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) is hitting .384 with 10 hits. Classmate Matt Schaefer (Clifton Park, N.Y.) is hitting .320 with eight hits, and senior Tim Fitzgerald (Orchard Park, N.Y./Canisius) is batting .255 with 10 hits and 10 RBI.

Pittsburgh is led by sophomore Ben Copeland who is hitting .444 with a team-best 24 hits, including seven doubles. He has scored 19 runs and has stolen five of six bases for the Panthers.