CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Niagara Purple Eagles built a big lead out of the gate, but a strong rally in the middle innings gave the APSU Governors a 15-7 win in the opening game of the 2015 season.
The Purple Eagles (0-1) jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning, four runs in the second, and a 10-for-17 effort at the plate to build a 6-0 lead.
Anthony Firenzi led off the season with a single to left field before the senior stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.
Thomas Rodrigues wasted no time and scored Firenzi with a single to left center.
Another single to left and two walks, one with two outs, rounded out the opening inning and brought in another run.
Geoff Seto started the second inning with a single to right center to get Niagara rolling again. NU collected another six singles in the frame, including a two-RBI knock to right field from
Daniel Procopio in his first career NU at-bat, to build the 6-0 lead.
"It was a solid first game," head coach
Rob McCoy said. "I saw a lot of good things out there. Cody had a solid start that he can build off of moving forward. Our offense imposed its will on a good starter early in the game. Defensively we made some nice plays. Overall, take away two bad innings and that's a different ball game. We will definitely build on this moving forward."
The Governors (1-0) rallied in with five runs in the sixth inning and another six in the bottom of the seventh on the way to a 15-7 win.
Cody Eckerson started on the mound and sat down the first three batters looking. He would throw five complete innings, strike out seven, and get charged for three earned runs.
Matt McCuen made his first appearance for the Purple and White, throwing 1.1 innings giving up two runs on two hits out of the bullpen.
On offense, the Purple Eagles stole a combined seven bases. Firenzi finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with one run while Rodrigues went 2-for-4 with two runs. Procopio and
Taylor Hackett tied for the team-lead with two RBIs apiece.
Niagara is back on the field for the second game of the Governors Challenge when they go head-to-head with Northern Illinois University at 2:30 p.m.
