NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Deadlocked in a three-way tie for third place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings, the Niagara University baseball team (23-25, 13-9) prepares for its final regular season series of the 2004 season. The Purple Eagles host Canisius College (4-40, 4-20) in a three-game series at Bobo Field Thursday and Friday. Game one in the Thursday doubleheader is set for noon.
Down to the final weekend of the regular season to determine the four teams that will advance to the 2004 MAAC Tournament, played May 27-29 at Dutchess Stadium, in Fishkill, N.Y., Niagara is in a three-team tie for third place in the MAAC standings. All with a 13-9 conference record, the Purple Eagles are tied with Manhattan College and Siena, however own the head-to-head tiebreaker with each school.
"I am pleased that as we enter our last weekend, we control our own destiny," Niagara head coach Mike McRae said. "If we play well, take care of business and get a little help (from other schools), we will capture second place and the home seed in the first round of the conference tournament."
With a 3-2 record in their last five conference games, the Purple Eagles head into this week’s series with the Griffs with an 8-5 record at Bobo Field this season. In last weekend’s series at home, Niagara dropped two of three games against 2004 MAAC regular season champions Le Moyne -- who remain the only school in the conference to have clinched a spot in next weekend’s MAAC Tournament.
Leading the conference in runs batted in, junior shortstop Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.) has three RBI in his last two games, bringing his season total to 49. Batting a team-high .353 this season, Eastley has eight home runs, 11 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .614 (fourth in the MAAC).
Among the MAAC leaders in four offensive categories, junior Vince Ircandia (Calgary, Alb.) leads the team with a .455 on-base percentage, drawing a team-high 29 walks and stealing 19 bases this season. Ircandia has a .331 batting average and 48 runs scored from the leadoff position.
Playing in their final series at Bobo Field are seniors Jeff Finucane (Rochester, N.Y.), Tim Fitzgerald (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Greg Lehman (Croghan, N.Y.). Combined, the three have played in over 200 games while at Niagara, all contributing in different aspects during their collegiate careers.
"It will be a very exciting and emotional series for our three seniors. They are three terrific young men who will be extremely missed in the program," McRae said.
Canisius, tied for ninth in the MAAC standings with a 4-20 conference mark, is on a four-game losing streak heading into this week’s series, having lost eight of its last 10 games.
In last weekend’s series with Manhattan, the Griffs were outscored 39-17, while getting swept in the three-game series by the Jaspers.
Canisius is led in hitting by sophomores Gabe Baida and Kevin Smith. Baida, batting .313, leads the Griffs with 28 RBI and nine doubles this season, with a .431 slugging percentage. Smith, who is batting .274 with 19 RBI, leads the team with 14 stolen bases in 43 games.
On the mound, sophomore Jordan Neufeld leads the team with 10 starts this season, taking a 1-5 record and a 6.52 ERA into the final regular-season series. Senior right-hander J.T. Wright (0-7, 6.98) leads the team with 39 strikeouts this season.
Niagara leads the all-time series with Canisius, 63-56. Last season, the Purple Eagles swept the Griffs, winning the three-game series, played at the Demske Sports Complex, 17-2, 13-2 and 5-3.
