Junior Andrew MacNevin

FISHKILL, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team (25-28) tried to come from behind and out of the losers bracket, but it wasn’t enough as it lost 5-4 to Marist College (33-19) Saturday afternoon in the 2005 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title game at Dutchess Stadium.

Junior Dan Parsons (Liverpool, N.Y.) was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Junior Kyle Nicoletta (Oakville, Ont.) took the loss on the mound, giving up five hits in four innings of work. Junior Mike Radanovic (Surrey, B.C.) threw four innings and gave up two hits.

Named to the MAAC All-Tournament team were juniors Andrew MacNevin (St. Catherines, P.E.I.), and Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.), senior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.) and sophomores Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Josh Sawatzky (Atloona, Man.).

Niagara scored first when Parsons singled up the middle, was sacrificed to second by freshman Andrew MacDonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.), went to third on a balk and scored on a ground out by MacNevin.

The Purple Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth when Eastley singled to left field, moved to second on a bunt single by junior Paul Solini (Liverpool, N.Y.), then to third on a ground out and scored on a ground out by Brian Clifford (Cheektowaga, N.Y.).

Marist scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth when it collected five hits and two walks off two Niagara pitchers.

In the top of the eighth, Niagara made it a one-run game when it scored two runs on three hits. Parsons singled to right field, went to third on a Marist error that put MacDonald on first. MacNevin picked up the RBI sacrifice fly and Medici singled to second to score MacDonald.