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Niagara University Athletics

Fuhrman
4
Niagara NIA 2-11
5
Winner Notre Dame ND 6-5
Niagara NIA
2-11
4
Final
5
Notre Dame ND
6-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Niagara NIA 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 18 1
Notre Dame ND 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 5 6 3

W: M Vierling (1-0) L: McCuen, Matt (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Purple Eagles Edged In Extra Innings By Notre Dame

CARY, N.C. – The Niagara baseball team lost a close 5-4 game to Notre Dame in 10 innings on Sunday in its final game of the USA Baseball Irish Classic.

"When you play as well as we did today, and this entire weekend, you expect to win on the scoreboard," said head coach Rob McCoy. "However, when you play teams like N.C. State, Alabama and Notre Dame, the margin for error is extremely small. I am really proud of the way we played this weekend as a whole and as we continue to prepare, we will get better at minimizing mistakes and maximizing opportunities. We won the process game today and that's our priority."

The Purple Eagles (2-11) struck first in the top of the first inning. Taylor Hackett singled to left field, scoring Tanner Kirwer and giving Niagara a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the first. Notre Dame (6-5) responded in the bottom of the first and tied up the score, 1-1. Both teams went scoreless in the second through fifth innings.

In the top of the sixth, Michael Fuhrman singled to short, advancing Kirwer, who was already on base. Kirwer, then, scored on a fielding error to give the Purple Eagles a 2-1 lead over the Fighting Irish. In the bottom of the sixth, Notre Dame once again tied up the score, 2-2. In the top of the eighth inning, Notre Dame took its first lead of the game, 3-2.

In the top of the ninth inning, Darian Blanks scored on a throwing error to tie the score at 3-3. Niagara took back the lead, 4-3, after Fuhrman singled to left field and sent home Julian Gallup. In the bottom of the ninth, the Fighting Irish tied up the score 4-4. Notre Dame held off the Purple Eagles in the tenth inning.

Kirwer went 2-for-5 at the plate and led Niagara with two runs. Kirwer also had a team-best two stolen bases. Fuhrman went 6-for-6 at the plate and recorded one RBI. In the field, Christian Vangeison has 11 putouts and Greg Cullen had a team-high five assists. Matt McCuen faced 19 batters in 3.1 innings and took the loss.

The Purple Eagles play next from March 10-12 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and @NiagaraBASE. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles. 
 
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