NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team (27-27) ended the 2004 season with a 12-7 loss to Manhattan (25-26-1) late Friday in the semifinal of the 2004 Anaconda Sports/Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y.
The Purple Eagles tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth, but the Jaspers outscored Niagara 8-3 in the final five innings for the win.
Manhattan struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when it tallied four runs on four hits and a walk. Nick Derba scored on a single by Sam Deluca. Chris Gaskin doubled to center field to score the Jaspers’ second run. Matt Cucurollo then singled in Deluca. The fourth run came when John Fitzpatrick hit into a double play, but Gaskin scored on the play.
Niagara got on the board in the top of the second when sophomore Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.) doubled to left field and then scored on a double to center field by classmate Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y./Shaker).
The Purple Eagles’ middle of the lineup tied the game in the fourth. Alati doubled down the right-field line, stole third and then scored on Medici’s RBI single. Senior Greg Lehman (Croghan, N.Y.) then singled up the middle to score Medici.
Manhattan exploded in the fourth when it scored four runs on six hits, including a two-run home run, off freshman Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont.). Virtue was relieved after throwing three and two-thirds innings.
Niagara picked up one run in the sixth when the Alati-Medici duo connected for a run. Alati led off the inning with a triple to center field, and Medici singled up the middle to score Alati.
The Jaspers plated two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to take a 12-5 lead.
The Purple Eagles cut the score to 12-7 in the eighth. Medici led off with a double down the left-field line and then scored on a pinch-hit single to center by freshman Tom Farrell (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego). Sophomore Jeff Vincent (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) got his first hit of the tournament when he singled up the middle to score pinch runner freshman Matt Schaefer (Clifton Park, N.Y./Homer).
Medici finished the game going 4 for 4 with three runs, three RBI and two doubles. Alati was 3 for 4 with three runs.
