NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team (3-16, 1-2) travels to Syracuse to face two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champions Le Moyne College (7-8, 3-0) for a three-game series at Rockwell Field, on the campus of Le Moyne. Both Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday’s single game are scheduled for noon starts.
Only recording two hits in the 12-0 loss to Pittsburgh Tuesday, the Purple Eagles look to break a three-game losing streak in this weekend’s series against the Dolphins.
Juniors Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) and Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.) lead Niagara from the plate after 19 games.
Medici, a junior catcher, has a team-leading .323 batting average and 13 RBI. With a .523 slugging percentage, Medici has three home runs this season.
Alati, a junior infielder/outfielder, has a team-high 11 runs scored this season and a .290 batting average. He has seven RBI and a .493 slugging percentage.
Junior James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) gets the start in Game 1 against the Dolphins. In his last start, Avery (1-2) allowed five hits and one run in Niagara’s 2-1 win over Siena March 27.
Sophomores Josh Sawatzky (Altona, Man.) and Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.) start Games 2 and 3, respectively.
Defeating Duquesne, 7-6, Wednesday, Le Moyne heads into this weekend’s series on a four-game winning streak, outscoring opponents, 31-16, during the four-game span.
Junior Michael Affronti leads the team with a .356 batting average and 13 RBI this season. With a team-high .492 slugging percentage, the junior infielder went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the win over Duquesne Wednesday.
Senior outfielder Aaron Bulkley leads the team with five stolen bases, batting .350 with seven RBI this season.
On the mound, sophomore Bobby Blevins (2-1) has started a team-high five games this season, with a 5.34 ERA. Leading the team in innings pitched, Blevins won an 8-4 decision over Canisius March 26, allowing six hits and striking out four in 8 2-3 innings.
Senior Alan Drechsler (0-1) and sophomore T.J. Sheridan (2-0) got starts in last weekend’s series against Canisius.
Niagara trails the all-time series with the Dolphins, 21-59, losing two of three games last season at Niagara Field. The Purple Eagles last win at Rockwell Field came May 10, 2003, in which Niagara defeated Le Moyne, 5-3.
