Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team walked off in the bottom of the ninth inning as they secured a 9-8 walk off win over Mount St. Mary's to open the final series of the regular season.
Game Recap

• Niagara opened the game by getting on the board early. Nick Groves opened the game with a double to left center. Groves was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Corl. On a 1-2 pitch Cole Tucker grounded out to short by drove in Groves with the first run of the game.
• The Purple Eagles were back at it in the bottom of the second inning. Max Giordano drew a walk to open the inning which was followed by a Cole O'Connor single. With runners on the corners and no outs, Matt Ward singled and drove in Giordano from third for the second run of the game. After a Josh Marchese single to load the bases, Brady Desjardins flied out to right and drove in O'Connor for the third while Ward moved up to third base. On an 0-2 pitch and runners on the corners, Groves drove a pitch to left field and drove in Ward to make it a 4-0 Niagara lead.
• The Mount responded in the top of the third inning as they hit a three run homer to make it a 4-3 lead.
• In the top of the fourth, Mount scored three runs again and took a 6-4 lead.
• The Purple Eagles took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Groves reached on an error to open the inning then moved to second on a groundout. After a flyout, Groves advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two outs in the inning, Vincent Mauro legged out an infield single and ended up on second after a throwing error, Groves scored on the play. On the very next pitch Giordano hit his team leading 16^th homer of the season to give Niagara a 7-6 lead.
• The back and forth game continued in the top of the sixth inning as Mount scored twice to take an 8-7 lead.
• Niagara once again responded in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out in the inning, Josh Marchese singled to right field. Desjardins grounded to second and reached on a fielder's choice, he then swiped second. With a 1-2 count, Groves singled and Desjardins tied the game at eight as he scored from second.
• After trading runs for the first six innings, neither team scored again until the ninth. In the top of the ninth, Mount had a one out hit but the batter was thrown out going for a double. The inning ended after just six pitches.
• Cole Tucker opened the bottom of the ninth inning as he was hit by a pitch, Nate Milk then pinch ran for Tucker. Mauro then laid down a sacrifice bunt and moved Milk to second. With first base open and two outs, Mount pitched to the Purple Eagles leading hitter in Giordano. With a 2-1 count, Giordano ripped a single up the middle to beat the shift and drive in Milk with the winning run.

Niagara Notes

• Marcus Cashman started on the mound and went five innings while allowing six runs (five earned) while striking out two. He threw a season-high 108 pitches.
• Zac Laird went 2.2 innings out of the pen and struck out five while allowing two runs.
• Zach Cameron went 1.1 innings while pitching up his second win of the season. He needed just nine pitches to set down four batters.
• Niagara had 10 hits in the game with seven Purple Eagles recording a hit. Marchese, Groves, and Giordano each had two hits.
• All nine starters for Niagara reached base safely while the team also drew four walks.
• Giordano drove in three runs, it is his 18^th game this season in which he has multiple RBIs. He has 53 RBI this season which accounts for over 40 percent of his career RBI. He is also three homers from tying the Niagara career record.
• With the win, Niagara needs to win just of the next two games to clinch a spot in the MAAC Championships.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles host the Mount on Friday for game two with first pitch scheduled for 3 PM.