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Tyler Scott
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OLEAN, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team swept Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, winning game one 9-6 before capturing game two 14-13. The Purple Eagles bats exploded from their recent slump, collecting 11 hits in the first contest after totaling 10 hits in Tuesday's doubleheader loss.
Niagara 9, St. Bonaventure 6
Matt Wietlispach provided the punch, going 3-for-3 and falling a double short of the cycle. The senior left fielder collected four RBIs, scored three runs and added a triple and the game-winning home run from the leadoff spot. Senior Jason Cramer went 3-for-4 and scored two runs, while junior Cam Stykemain scored three times.
Freshman Tyler Scott pitched well in his first career start, holding the Bonnies to one hit in the first four innings. The rookie right hander ran out of gas after that and allowed four runs in the fourth. In the fifth inning, Scott exited with a 6-4 lead, but left the bases loaded with no outs. Senior Bill Rafferty came in and minimized the damage, collecting two line-outs after allowing the tying runs to score.
In the top of the sixth, Wietlispach gave the Purple Eagles the lead with a two-run home run after Stykemain reached on a leadoff bunt single. Freshman Wes Walker singled in Cramer in the seventh for his first career RBI.
Rafferty picked up his second career win, pitching two innings of scoreless relief. Junior Brian Deering moved over from second base to pitch a scoreless ninth for his first career save.
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Kody Kasper
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Niagara 14, St. Bonaventure 13
Kody Kasper earned his first career win, receiving plenty of run support from his classmates. The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 14-4 lead early and held on for the win.
Deering scored three runs in the win, while Cramer, Timothy Cozier, Trevor Rutkowski, Stephen Smith and Ryan McCauley crossed home plate twice. Freshman catcher Evan Wexler collected his first two career hits and recorded three RBIs.
Kasper scattered five runs, four earned, on four hits in four innings. Deering pitched another scoreless inning of relief in the win, striking out two batters.
The Purple Eagles travel to Philadelphia to take part in the Villanova Baseball Bash on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
