NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Continuing its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference portion of its schedule, the Niagara University baseball team (3-17, 1-3) hosts Iona College (4-18, 2-3) at Bobo Field Saturday and Sunday. The start of Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for noon, with Sunday’s single game also set for a noon start.
Looking to break a four-game losing streak in this weekend’s three-game series against the Gaels, the Purple Eagles are 1-2 at Bobo Field this season, last playing at home against Siena College March 27-28.
Starting on the mound for Niagara in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader is sophomore Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.). He leads the team with 33 strikeouts this season in five appearances, making four starts with a 7.99 ERA. In his last outing, Griffin struck out 10 batters, one short of his season high, in a 7-5 loss to Siena March 28.
Following Griffin in Game 2 Saturday will be sophomore Josh Sawatzky (Altona, Man.), who has made five starts and leads the team with 39 2-3 innings pitched.
Junior James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) starts in Sunday’s contest against Iona.
Two players, juniors Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) and Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.), on the Purple Eagles are hitting over .300 this season.
Medici leads the team with a .333 batting average and is tied for fourth in the conference with 14 RBI this season. He is tied for the team lead with three home runs with a .522 slugging percentage.
Alati, batting .301 with a .507 slugging percentage, is third in the MAAC with 37 total bases. He leads the team with 13 runs scored and has seven RBI this season.
Winning its last two games, Iona earned a 9-7 comeback win over Sacred Heart Thursday, scoring five runs in the ninth inning.
Sophomore Nick Capowski leads the team with 11 RBI, batting .281 with a team-high .474 slugging percentage. In Thursday’s win over Sacred Heart, Capowski led the Gaels with two runs scored, going 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI.
Freshman Dan Rodriguez currently leads Iona with a .294 batting average.
Senior Chris Lopez (0-6) is scheduled to start Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader for the Gaels. With a 6.67 ERA, Lopez is tied for the team lead with six starts this season.
Junior Marty Hand and sophomore Nick Stanziani are scheduled to start Games 2 and 3, respectively. Hand (2-4) leads the team with two wins and 21 strikeouts in 32 1-3 innings pitched.
Niagara defeated Iona, 8-5, last season, played at Bruno Field, in New Rochelle, N.Y., April 3, 2004. The Purple Eagles have won the last five meetings with the Gaels, dating back to the 2001-02 season, outscoring Iona, 36-13, in the five-game stretch.
