NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Led by Josh Sawatzky’s one-hitter, the Niagara University baseball team (12-15, 7-2) swept Saturday’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against Saint Peter's (4-16, 2-9) at John Bobo Field. Niagara won the opener, 6-2, and took the nightcap, 4-0.
Sawatzky, a freshman from Altona, Man., gave up one hit - a two-out single in the fourth inning - and struck out 12 batters in his seven-inning victory.
The teams close the three-game series Sunday at noon.
Niagara 6, Saint Peters 2
After allowing two hits and a run in the first inning, Niagara’s James Avery (So., Moose Jaw, Sask.) settled into a stretch in which he retired 16 of 17 batters. Avery gave up an unearned run in the sixth inning as Saint Peters loaded the bases on three singles and an error.
Sophomore Jeff Vincent (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) stroked a two-run double in the second inning as Niagara plated four runs in that frame. Sophomore Paul Solini (Liverpool, N.Y.) led off the second with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A walk to sophomore Andrew MacNevin (St. Catherines, P.E.I.) put runners on the corners before freshman Brian Clifford (Cheektowaga) hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Solini. Senior Greg Lehman (Croghan, N.Y.) singled to again put runners at first and third. Vincent then followed with his double to left-center, scoring MacNevin and Lehman.
Sophomore Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.) led off the third inning with a walk before moving to third base on MacNevin’s double. Alati scored on Clifford’s second sacrifice fly of the game.
Lehman hit a one-out double in the sixth before moving to third on a single by Vincent. The two then pulled off a double steal, giving Niagara the 6-2 lead.
Niagara’s Chris Nicoletta (So., Oakville, Ont.) pitched scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth innings.
Niagara 4, Saint Peters 0
Junior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.) had two hits and three runs batted in, two coming on a fifth-inning single, while junior Vince Ircandia (Calgary, Alb.) picked up two hits and scored two runs.
Ircandia led off the Purple Eagles’ first inning with a double to right-center field. He advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on Eastley’s groundout. Eastley plated the game’s second run in the fourth inning. He led off that frame with a single and went to second on an errant pickoff attempt. He moved to third base on Alati’s bunt single. Eastley then scored on a sacrifice fly by Solini..
In the fifth inning, Vincent singled and stole second base. Ircandia walked with one out before an infield error loaded the bases. Eastley then singled to center, scoring Vincent and Ircandia.
