NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Niagara University baseball team (14-22, 8-6) earned a 5-3 comeback victory over Manhattan College (17-14, 8-4) Sunday at Bobo Field.
Braving cold temperatures and sporadic rain -- which led to a delay prior to the fifth inning -- the Purple Eagles scored three runs over the seventh and eighth innings to hand the Jaspers their first loss in their last five Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games.
With junior Paul Solini (Liverpool, N.Y.) and senior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.) on in the bottom of the eighth and the game knotted at 3-3, junior Matt Schaefer (Clifton Park, N.Y.) hit an RBI-single through the right-side gap to score Solini and the game-winning run. Sophomore Brian Clifford (Buffalo) followed Schaefer with a single to center field, scoring Eastley and giving Niagara a two-run lead.
Sophomore pitcher Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.) closed-out the game in the top of the ninth, striking out sophomore outfielder Marc Giordano to earn his second save of the season.
Niagara took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, with junior Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) scoring on a passed ball and junior Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.) scoring on an sacrifice fly by Eastley.
Manhattan would tie the game the following inning.
Senior John Maser scored on an error by Solini and freshman Eric Nieto scored on an RBI-single to center by senior Gary Diaz.
Maser gave the Jaspers a 3-2 lead in the fifth, scoring after sophomore Nick Derba beat out a potential double play at first.
Niagara freshman infielder Andrew MacDonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) provided the game-tying run in the seventh, leading to the two-run eighth inning. MacDonald hit a single to center field, scoring Clifford from second and tying the game at 3-3.
Junior pitcher Mike Radanovic (Surrey, B.C.) earned his second conference win of the season, pitching 3 1-3 innings of one-hit relief. Radanovic (2-3) struck out three and did not allow a run in the win.
Junior James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) pitched four innings in the start, striking out three and allowing three hits.
Handed his first loss of the season, Manhattan junior pitcher Chris Cody (6-1) threw 133 pitches in 7 2-3 innings, allowing seven hits and striking out eight.
Weather permitting, the two teams are scheduled to conclude the three-game conference series in a doubleheader Monday at Bobo Field. Times for the games have yet to be determined.
