POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team (18-23, 11-7) split its doubleheader against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference-leading Marist College (23-17, 17-4) Saturday at McCann Field, on the campus of the Red Foxes.
Led by a solid pitching performance by sophomore Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.), Niagara defeated Marist, 3-1, in Game 2 of the doubleheader, falling in Game 1 to the Red Foxes, 5-3.
With the split, Niagara remains a game out of fourth place in the MAAC standings, a crucial position as the top four teams in the conference advance to the MAAC Tournament, May 26-28.
Offensively, the Purple Eagles were led by senior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.), who was 3-for-7 on the day with an RBI and a run scored.
Game 1 - Marist 5, Niagara 3
Holding onto a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, Niagara surrendered four runs over the seventh and eighth innings to fall to the Red Foxes, 5-3, in Game 1.
In the seventh, sophomore Pat Fenney hit a bunt-single down the third base line, scoring junior Kevin Grauer and sophomore Thomas Ciccarone, giving Marist a 3-2 lead.
Niagara junior Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) tied the game the following inning, hitting an RBI-single to center field to score junior Andrew MacNevin (St. Catharines, P.E.I.) from second, but the Red Foxes scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to capture the 5-3 win.
Senior Keith Brachold and Grauer had RBIs in the bottom of the eighth to forge the Red Foxes into the lead.
Marist senior Chris Tracz (7-3) allowed nine hits and struck out six in an complete-game effort for the win.
Niagara junior James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) struck out three and allowed seven hits in the loss.
Game 2 - Niagara 3, Marist 1
A sterling performance by Griffin (3-4) helped lead the Purple Eagles to the 3-1 win in Game 2. The sophomore pitcher allowed just four hits in his seven innings of work, striking out 12 without a walk.
Niagara led 3-0 after four innings.
Ahead 1-0 in the fourth, the Purple Eagles scored runs on a Paul Solini (Liverpool, N.Y.) ground out and a passed ball by Marist junior catcher Bryan Towler that allowed MacNevin to score from third.
Marist got on the board in the sixth on a Brachold single to left, scoring sophomore Travis Musolf, but Griffin shut the door on any potential comeback by the Red Foxes.
Marist sophomore Erik Supplee (4-3) allowed six hits and struck out three in the loss.
The two teams conclude the three-game series Sunday at McCann Field, with game time set for noon.
