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Niagara University Athletics

Tucker
Demetrius Kazanas
8
Niagara University NIA 22-32
11
Winner Rider RIDERB 28-25
Niagara University NIA
22-32
8
Final
11
Rider RIDERB
28-25
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Niagara University NIA 2 0 0 1 0 3 1 1 0 8 12 1
Rider RIDERB 0 1 4 0 0 0 1 5 X 11 13 2

W: Stalzer, C. (3-2) L: Erwin, Ben (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Falls To Rider In Final Elimination Bracket Game

POMONA, N.Y. – After a 19-plus hour weather delay in a game that started on Friday and ended on Saturday, the No. 6 Purple Eagles (22-32, 13-11 MAAC) fell to No. 5 Rider (28-25, 12-10 MAAC), 11-8, in the final elimination bracket game of the MAAC Championships.  

Niagara made MAAC baseball history during the tournament, becoming the first ever No.6 seed to win three tournament games and advance to the final elimination bracket game. The Purple Eagles, who won multiple MAAC Tournament games for the first time since 2005, eliminated No. 4 Monmouth, No. 2 Marist, and No. 1 Fairfield.

Game Recap
  • In the top of the first inning, Josh Marchese singled up the middle to score Cole O'Connor and put NU on the board. With bases loaded, Matt Ward was walked and the Purple Eagles took the early 2-0 lead over the Broncs.
  • Rider cut the Niagara lead in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the second frame after a solo homerun.
  • The Broncs scored four runs in the third to take their first lead of the game, 5-2.
  • In the top of the fourth, Dawson Bailey scored for the Purple Eagles to put them within two, 5-3.
  • Due to inclement weather, the game, which started on Friday night at 11:00 p.m., was called and was resumed on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.
  • In the top of the sixth, the Purple Eagles reclaimed the lead. A sacrifice fly from O'Connor scored Spencer Marcus and put NU within one, 5-4. A double from Cole Tucker plated two runs to give the Purple Eagles a one-run lead over the Broncs, 6-5.
  • A solo homerun from Benny Serrano in the top of the seventh inning put Niagara up by two, 7-5.
  • Rider answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh, but NU remained in the lead, 7-6.
  • Bailey hit his third homerun of the tournament in the top of the eighth, putting the Purple Eagles back ahead by two, 8-6.
  • Rider, however, picked up momentum in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring five runs to take an 11-8 lead.
  • The Purple Eagles went scoreless in the ninth, falling to the Broncs, 11-8, to end the 2022 season.

Eagle's Eye On
  • O'Connor, Tucker and Marcus led the Purple Eagles in hits with two each.
  • Tucker had a team-high three RBIs.
  • Bailey led the team in runs scored with three.
  • Nick Veselinovic started on the mound, striking out a career-high six batters in 2.2 innings pitched. He gave up five runs on six hits.
  • Ben Erwin (1-2) took the loss. He allowed three runs on one hit.
  • Marty Cole and Kyle Smyth each struck out two.
  • The Purple Eagles went 16-5 in the final 21 games of the regular season, which was the best 21-game stretch in program history.
  • Marty Cole crushed the Niagara single season pitching appearances record, which was previously set by Tyler Addision with 28 in 2006, with 38 appearances on the 2021 season.
  • Josh Marchese was just one homerun short of tying the single season homeruns record with 11.
  • Marcus Cashman was an All-MAAC Second Team selection, earning All-MAAC honors for the second straight season.

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