Junior Vince Ircandia |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After spending its first 25 games on the road, the Niagara University baseball team returns to the friendly confines of John P. Bobo Field this weekend. The Purple Eagles host Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Saint Peter’s in a three-game series Saturday and Sunday. First pitch both days is noon.
Niagara enters the game in second place in the MAAC with a 5-2 league record and 10-15 overall mark. The Purple Eagles have won seven of their last 10 games and have won all three of their conference series (2-1 vs. Manhattan, 1-0 vs. Iona, 2-1 vs. Siena). Niagara has been idle since the Siena series this past weekend. Its doubleheader at Albany was postponed due to bad weather on Tuesday.
The Purple Eagles have put together a strong offensive attack this spring. Five players are hitting over .300 and four are hitting .300 or better in league games. Leading the way is senior Tim Fitzgerald. The centerfielder is hitting .414 with a team-leading 12 hits and nine runs. He has two doubles, a home run and five runs batted in vs. MAAC foes.
Junior Reed Eastley is hitting .393 with 11 hits, six runs, a team-best four doubles, a triple and six RBI. The short stop also has a team-best .607 slugging percentage. Designated hitter Mike Alati is hitting .333 with nine hits, two doubles, a home run and a team-leading eight RBI.
On the mound, sophomore James Avery will get the noon start on Saturday. He has played in a team-high three MAAC games and has a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings. The 2003 Rookie of the Year has given up 14 hits, seven runs, four earned runs and walked four. He leads the team in strikeouts with eight.
Throwing the second game on Saturday will be MAAC Freshman of the Year candidate Josh Sawatzky. The right-hander is 2-0 on the season with a 0.69 earned run average. This week’s MAAC Rookie of the Week has given up 12 hits, two runs, one earned run and walked four in 13 innings of work in the leagues.
Saint Peter’s enters the series with a 5-13 overall record and 2-7 MAAC mark. The Peacocks are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are on a three-game losing streak after dropping its series with Iona (4-3, 19-0, 6-4) last weekend. Saint Peter’s has been idle since then with its games vs. St. John’s and Lafayette postponed due to the weather.
The Peacocks have two players batting .300 or better in their 18 games. Sophomore Jared Fowler is hitting .349 with 22 hits, 10 runs and 12 RBI. Senior Jeff Prosdocimo has a team-leading 24 hits and 14 RBI, and is hitting .324. Classmate Nick Edwards has a squad-best four doubles and is six for six in stolen bases.
On the mound, Saint Peter’s has three pitchers with over 35 innings of work. Senior right-hander Dan Cainas has a 3.32 ERA and 1-3 record in six appearances, five starts and two complete games. He has thrown 38 innings and allowed 34 hits, 21 runs and 14 earned runs. Classmate Doug Grant is 1-5 on the season with a 3.40 ERA in seven games, five starts and three complete games. He has thrown 42.1 innings and allowed 46 hits, 24 runs and 16 earned runs. Rookie right-hander Sean Spicer has appeared in seven games, starting five, and has a 2-4 record and a 4.63 ERA. He has thrown 35 innings and allowed 41 hits, 23 runs and 18 earned runs.
