NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Extending its winning streak to five games, the Niagara University baseball team (8-17) swept the doubleheader against the University at Buffalo (11-16) Tuesday at Sal Maglie Stadium, in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
With both games of the doubleheader scheduled for seven innings, the Purple Eagles defeated the Bulls, 2-1, in Game 1, earning a 4-3 win in extra innings in Game 2.
Niagara head coach Chris Chernisky credits strong pitching in Tuesday’s sweep of the Bulls.
"I can’t say enough about our starting pitching today," Chernisky said. "Whether it’s the first game with Ryan Virtue and Mark Wilson, with Kyle Nicoletta coming in. Chris Cerchie gave us four-plus solid innings and Mike Radanovic pitched his tail off. We’re on a little bit of a streak right now and feel really good about how our game is."
The five-game winning streak is the longest for Niagara since the 2003 season, in which it won five consecutive games from March 20 to March 27.
Game 1 - Niagara 2, Buffalo 1
Tied at 1-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) singled-in junior Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) and the game-winning run.
Junior Kyle Nicoletta (Oakville, Ont.) earned his second save of the season following Medici scoring, pitching a scoreless seventh inning and inducing a fly ball by Buffalo junior James Kingsley to end the game.
The Purple Eagles took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Vincent scored on a wild pitch by Buffalo starting pitcher Matt Francavillo.
Buffalo tied the game the following inning when senior Joe Mihalics, who reached on an fielding error, scored on a sacrifice fly by David Amaro.
The game remained tied into the sixth inning.
Niagara starting pitcher Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont.) pitched five innings in his second start of the season, striking out two and allowing four hits and one run.
Francavillo pitched all six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out three.
Game 2 - Niagara 4, Buffalo 3 (10 innings)
With the bases loaded in the 10th inning, freshman Andrew MacDonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) hit a single to shallow left, scoring fellow-freshman Ray Ciancaglini (Geneva, N.Y.), who opened the inning with a walk, from third.
Both the Purple Eagles and Bulls benefitted from strong pitching by their respective bullpens and steady fielding to extend the game into extra innings. Nicoletta (2-3) earned the win for Niagara, pitching two innings in relief, allowing two hits and striking out one.
After Niagara took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Buffalo scored three in the top of the fifth to comeback and take a 3-2 lead on the Purple Eagles. John Boom and Mihalics scored on a Niagara fielding error, followed by an RBI-single by Phil Vanhorne.
The next inning, the Purple Eagles tied the game on a single by junior Matt Schaefer (Clifton Park, N.Y.), scoring Medici.
Neither team could score the game-winning run the following three innings, leading to MacDonald’s game-winning single.
Niagara starting pitcher Chris Cerchie (Lasalle, Ont.), who made his first-career start, pitched four innings, allowing seven hits and three runs.
The Purple Eagles return to action this weekend, traveling to Jersey City, N.J. for a three-game series against Saint Peter’s.
