Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team fell in the second game of a three game series against Quinnipiac. After winning game one at home on Thursday, the Purple Eagles fell 16-10 on Friday afternoon at Bobo Field.
Game Recap

• The scoring started early for the Purple Eagles as they pushed a pair of runs across in the second inning. Max Giordano opened the inning with a double down the left field line. After a pair of outs, Gavin Schrader sliced a 0-1 pitch to left center and legged out his first career triple while driving in Giordano. On the very next pitch, Brady Desjardins doubled down the left field line to make it a 2-0 Niagara lead.
• Quinnipiac tied the game in the top of the fourth inning as they took advantage of a Purple Eagle error.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Giordano reached on a error to open the inning. Josh Marchese then drove the first pitch he saw to the wall in left center. Marchese notched a double and an RBI as Giordano scored from first.
• In the top of the fifth the Bobcats tied the game on a solo homer and then took a four run lead on a grand slam.
• The Bobcats added three to their lead in the seventh inning to make it 10-3. The next inning they added three more runs to make it 13-3.
• In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Purple Eagles looked to rally. Giordano once again opened the inning by ripping a single up the middle. Marchese then notched his second double of the day as he once again drove in Giordano for the fourth Purple Eagle run. Marchese then moved to third on a balk and scored on a wild pitch. After an out, Schrader started the rally again with a single to left field. After a popout, Schrader moved to second on a passed ball. Leadoff hitter Nick Groves was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. After both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch, Matt Ward singled up the middle and drove in both runners. After a four run eighth inning the Purple Eagles trailed 13-7.
• Quinnipiac extended its lead in the top of the ninth to make it 16-7.
• Vincent Mauro opened the bottom of the ninth with a walk which was followed by Giordano being hit by a pitch. On a 2-2 pitch, Marchese notched his third extra base hit of the afternoon as he hit a three run homer to center field. The Purple Eagles could not come back any further and fell 16-10.
• Ryan Minckler started on the mound for the Purple Eagles. The redshirt-freshman went four innings while allowing two runs on five hits. He struckout a career high six in his first home start.

Niagara Notes

• Niagara is now 8-1 in its last nine games against Quinnipiac, the Bobcat win snaps a eight game Niagara winning streak at home against Quinnipiac.
• Giordano got on based all five times he stepped to the place. He had three hits, was hit by a pitch and reached on an error. He accounted for four of the 10 Purple Eagle runs.
• Marchese went 3-5 at the plate with a career high five RBI. He had three extra base hits, it is the first time in his career in which he had three extra base hits.
• Giordano, Marchese, and Schrader all had three hits. Groves, Ward, Cole Tucker, Kelly Corl, and Desjardins each recorded a hit. All nine starters reached base safely.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles close out the home series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for noon at Bobo field.