Skip To Main Content

Niagara University Athletics

McCuen
8
Winner Niagara NIA 5-4
5
Virginia VA 10-1
Winner
Niagara NIA
5-4
8
Final
5
Virginia VA
10-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Niagara NIA 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 8 6 0
Virginia VA 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 5 8 1

W: MacKinnon, Alex (1-0) L: Murdock, N. (1-1) S: McCuen, Matt (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Purple Eagles Hand No. 12 Virginia Its First Loss Of The Season

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Niagara baseball team defeated No. 12 Virginia, 8-5, on Saturday to hand the Cavaliers their first loss of the season.

Game Summary
Final Score: Niagara 8, Virginia 5
Game Leaders: Tanner Kirwer (2 runs), Greg Cullen (2 runs)
Records: Niagara (5-4), Virginia (10-1)
Location: Davenport Field – Charlottesville, Virginia

Coach's Corner
  • "This process started last year with a group of guys that were ready to change the program," said head coach Rob McCoy. "Progress has been slow and steady, but their trust and belief in our direction has been amazing. I'm extremely proud to be their coach and I look forward to what the future holds."

Game Recap
  • The Purple Eagles came out strong offensively. In the top of the first, with Kirwer and Cullen on base, Philippe Langlois singled through the left side to send Kirwer home. Cullen scored after Trevor McCauley was hit by a pitch then, with bases loaded, Joel Brophy doubled to left field, scoring Langlois and Peter Battaglia to give Niagara a 4-0 lead.
  • Niagara held Virginia scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Cavaliers scored once. The Purple Eagles maintained their lead, 4-1.
  • The Purple Eagles continued to stun the Cavaliers, tacking on four more runs to their lead in the top of the sixth. Julian Gallup scored on a wild pitch, then Owen Dziados was hit by a pitch, giving Kirwer enough time to round home plate. With bases once again loaded, Battaglia doubled to right center to send home Cullen and Wyatt Olson and put NU up 8-1.
  • The Cavaliers began to make a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, halving Niagara's lead, 8-4.
  • After a score from Virginia in the bottom of the ninth, the Cavaliers were only down by three, 8-5. With bases loaded, Matt McCuen earned a huge strikeout, followed by a Virginia fly out to center field to end the inning and secure the victory for the Purple Eagles.

Inside the Numbers
  • Kirwer and Cullen led Niagara with two runs each and Brophy and Battaglia had a team-high two RBIs each.
  • Kirwer, Battaglia and Brophy each recorded one double.
  • Alex MacKinnon (1-0) earned his first collegiate win, facing 14 batters and striking out two in 3.0 innings pitched.
  • McCuen faced five batters, struck out one and earned a save.

Purple Points
  • The last time the Purple Eagles beat a ranked opponent was in 2013, when Niagara picked up a 7-5 win against Pittsburgh in the Panther Classic.
  • This is the best start to the season that Niagara has had since 2008 when the Purple Eagles also went 5-4 through the first nine games of the season.

Up Next
  • Niagara plays its final game in the University of Virginia Tournament against La Salle on Sunday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m.

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. 
 
Print Friendly Version