GAME 14
SCORE	Niagara 12 – Utah Valley 8
RECORDS	Niagara (2-12) – Utah Valley (3-13)
LOCATION	UCCU Ballpark

 
OREM, Utah – Niagara's bats were hot on Tuesday night as the Purple Eagles defeated the Utah Valley Wolverines, 12-8. The Purple Eagles scored 12 runs on 18 hits to snap a nine-game losing streak.

Game Recap

• The Purple Eagles were hot from the start. In the top of the first, an RBI ground-out from Michael Gabriele put Niagara on the board. Max Giordano then singled to center field, scoring Peter Battaglia to give NU a 2-0 lead. Josh Marchese blasted a two-run homerun down the left field line to give Niagara a 4-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning. It was Marchese's first career homerun.
• In the bottom of the first, Utah Valley scored twice to cut Niagara's lead in half, 4-2, but the Purple Eagles were undaunted.
• Darian Blanks scored on a balk and Dawson Bailey scored on a sacrifice fly from Benny Serrano in the top of the second, extending NU's lead, 6-2.
• In the top of the third, Marchese went yard again, sending two runs across the plate to give Niagara a commanding 8-2 lead over the Wolverines.
• Utah Valley added a run in the fifth, but Niagara kept the homerun train rolling. In the sixth, Bailey smacked his first career homerun over the fence in right center to put Niagara ahead by six, 9-3. RBI doubles from both Battaglia and Gabriele in the sixth added to Niagara's lead.
• The Wolverines added a two-run homerun of their own in the bottom of the seventh but Niagara still held the lead, 11-5.
• An RBI single from Gabriele scored Blanks to add on a final run for the Purple Eagles in the top of the eighth.
• The Wolverines began to claw back in the bottom of the ninth, scoring three runs, but the Niagara defense held steady to ensure the 12-5 victory over Utah Valley.

Eagle's Eye On…

• Bailey led the Purple Eagles with a career-high four hits. He also had a team-high three runs scored, while adding also one RBI.
• Marchese recorded a career-high four RBIs, three hits and two homeruns.
• Gabriele added three hits and three RBIs for Niagara.
• Battaglia went 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles.
• Tommy Bednarski (1-0) earned his first career win on the mound. He fanned two and allowed just two earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched.
• Alex MacKinnon earned the save for the Purple Eagles.
• Niagara's 12 runs scored and 18 hits are both season-highs.

Up Next

• Niagara plays a three-game series against the Cincinnati Bearcats March 15-17.

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