LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Niagara baseball team was edged by Rider, 2-1, in the first game of the teams' three-game season series on Friday.
Game Summary
Final Score: Rider 2, Niagara 1
Game Leaders: Peter Battaglia (1 RBI, 1 Hit),
Tanner Kirwer (1 Run, 1 Hit)
Records: Rider (14-16, 6-4 MAAC), Niagara (17-12, 7-3 MAAC)
Location: Sonny Pittaro Field – Lawrenceville, N.J.
Game Recap
- The first seven innings were a defensive battle between the Purple Eagles and the Broncs, as both teams went scoreless.
- In the top of the eighth, Kirwer doubled down the left field line to get on base. A sac bunt from Greg Cullen advanced Kirwer to third. Battaglia then tripled to left field, scoring Kirwer to Niagara the 1-0 lead.
- The Purple Eagles held Rider scoreless in the bottom of the eighth and the Broncs held off NU in the top of the ninth.
- In the bottom of the ninth, with one runner on base and no outs, Rider's Dalton Mayberry homered to right field to give the Broncs the 2-1 walk-off win.
Inside the Numbers
- Battaglia led Niagara with one RBI and Battaglia, Kirwer, Cullen and Joel Brophy each had one hit.
- Cody Eckerson threw 5.2 shutout innings, striking out five batters and allowing only two hits.
- Matt McCuen (2-1), who struck out one batter and allowed two runs in 0.1 innings pitched, took the loss for the Purple Eagles.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles play the final two games in their series with Rider on Saturday, April 15. The doubleheader starts at 12:00 p.m.
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