NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Continuing its road trip, the Niagara University baseball team (0-6) faces the University of North Carolina Charlotte (7-3) in a three-game series at Phillips Field, in Charlotte, N.C. The series is set to begin Friday, with a 4 p.m. start.
In their last game, the Purple Eagles were led by the pitching of sophomore Josh Sawatzky (Altona, Man.), who went 7 1-3 innings in a 6-2 loss to then-No. 5 South Carolina. Sawatzky kept the Gamecocks at bay for six innings, carrying a 2-1 Niagara lead into the seventh. The sophomore right-hander is set to start Game 3 this weekend against Charlotte.
Set to start Games 1 and 2, respectively, is junior James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) and sophomore Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.).
Leading the team with four RBI this season is junior Andrew MacNevin (St. Catharines, P.E.I.). MacNevin, who is batting .211, hit his second home run of the season in Niagara’s last contest, tying him for the team lead.
Junior Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.) has a team-high seven hits and two home runs this season, with a .591 slugging percentage.
Winning four of its last five games -- six of its last seven -- Charlotte heads into this weekend’s three-game series having defeated North Carolina A&T, 11-0, Tuesday.
In the win, sophomore Kris Rochelle, who leads the 49ers with 12 RBI this season, went 1-for-3 with three RBI and two stolen bases. Rochelle has started all 10 games this season, batting .294 with a team-high two home runs.
Also contributing at the plate for the 49ers is sophomore second baseman Cory Lane. From the leadoff position, Lane leads the team with 11 runs scored and 12 hits, adding seven RBI. Lane is batting .300.
On the mound, Charlotte will start junior Matt Landphair in Friday’s contest. Landphair, 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA, won his only start of the season, a 5-0 win over Tennessee Tech Feb. 26.
The 49ers will follow with junior Derek McDaid (1-1) and sophomore Adam Mills (3-0) in Game 2 and 3, respectively. Mills leads the team with three wins and 18.2 IP this season. He has a 3.86 ERA.
With all games played at Phillips Field, on the campus of UNC-Charlotte, Saturday and Sunday’s games are set for noon.
