Richmond, Va.—The Niagara baseball team completed a doubleheader sweep of Richmond on Saturday, Niagara won the first game 6-3 before taking game two 6-4 on the road.

Game One (W, 6-3)

Richmond struck first in the first game as they scored two runs in the first inning after being shutout on Friday.

Niagara answered right back in the top of the second inning. Matt Torresan opened the inning with a single while Colin Bruce followed it up with a single of his own. Brady Desjardins then stepped to the plate and laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to first and second. After a strikeout, the lineup turned over for Nick Groves, Groves flared one to the shortstop and beat the throw while Torresan came home. With runners on the corners, Groves swiped second with two outs to put two runners in scoring position. Kelly Corl stepped to the plate and ripped a double down the left field line that drove in both runners and gave Niagara a 3-2 lead.

Both teams went scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, Groves started the inning by reaching on an error, he then swiped second to get into scoring position. After a strikeout, Vincent Mauro stepped to the plate. During the at bat, Groves advanced to third on a wild pitch. On a 3-2 pitch, Mauro drove the ball out to center field that was caught but allowed Groves to score on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2 Niagara.

Just one inning later in the top of the sixth, Niagara loaded the bases with one out thanks to a walk from Rees Kozar, and singles from Eric Rataczak and Desjardins. With the bases loaded and one out, Nate Milk drew a walk to allow Kozar to score on the free pass. Niagara led 5-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning of the scheduled seven inning game.

Richmond responded with a run in the bottom half of the sixth to make it a 5-3 game.

In the top of the seventh, Maruo opened the inning with a walk. Matt Ward stepped to the plate and ripped a 3-2 pitch down the left field line that allowed Mauro to score all the way from first.

In the bottom of the seventh, Niagara brought in closer Zach Cameron to earn his second save of the season. He got the first out via a popout and then walked the second batter he faced. On a 1-1 pitch he induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Game One Notes

·       Steven Hospital started on the mound and went four innings while allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out three.

·       Noah Richardson picked up the win as he went 1.1 innings while striking out two.

·       Liam Reynolds came into the game in the sixth inning and needed just one pitch to get out a jam with runners on first and second, he rolled a 5-4-3 double play on his lone pitch of the game.

·       Niagara had 11 hits in the game as 10 Purple Eagles had a hit including all nine starters. Ward was the lone Purple Eagle with two hits.

·       Corl drove in a pair while Ward, Groves, Mauro, and Milk all had RBIs.

·       Groves stole a pair of bases in the game.

Game Two (W, 6-4)

Niagara opened the scoring in the first inning. Groves started the game with a walk and then proceeded to steal second. Nick Monile then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. After a flyout the Purple Eagles attempted a double steal, Monile was thrown out at second, but Groves was safe at third with Mauro at the plate. Despite being in an 0-2 hole Mauro singled to right field to drive in Groves from third and gave Niagara a 1-0 lead.

Richmond was held off the board until the bottom of the third inning as they scored a pair.

The Purple Eagles tied the game at two in the top of the fifth inning. Rataczak earned a walk and Mauro reached on an error to put runners and on first and second. Gavin Schrader then stepped to the plate and singled that brought home Rataczak with the tying run.

In the top of the eighth inning, Tommy Takayoshi singled to start the inning, Milk came in to pinch run for him. Brodie MacKay was then hit on an 0-2 pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. Kozar then pitch hit for Jason Green and reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners. Following a pitching change, Desjardins laid down a perfect bunt to bring home Milk from third. After another pitching change and a popout, Rataczak came to the plate looking to extend the lead. On a 1-2 pitch he singled back up the middle and drove in both Desjardins and Kozar to make it 5-2. Mauro was the next batter and he singled to right field and drove in Groves from second after he was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.

Richmond got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the ninth, but Cameron came out the pen with the scored 6-3 and got three straight outs to secure the save.

Game Two Notes

·       Gage Wheaton, Carter Fink, Jack Dickerson, Takayoshi, MacKay, and Green all made their Purple Eagle debuts.

·       Nick Veslinovic started on the mound for the Purple Eagles, he went three innings while allowing two runs and striking out two.

·       Wheaton threw two scoreless innings while striking out four batters and allowing just one hit.

·       Fink went three innings while striking out four.

·       Mauro, Schrader, and Desjardins all had two hits while Mauro and Rataczak each had two RBI.

·       Desjardins and Rataczak each drew two walks whole Groves, Monile, Milk, and MacKay all walked.

·       Niagara stole five bases, with Groves and Desjardins each stealing two bases while Milk stole one.

Niagara Notes

·       Based on available records by the NCAA it is the first time since at least the 1976 season that Niagara has started 3-0.

·       It is the first time in Cameron's career that he has picked up two saves on the same calendar day. He now has three saves on the season.

·       Niagara is hitting .306 as a team while opposing hitters are hitting just .207.

·       Mauro leads the team with a .455 average while Desjardins (.444), Ward (.429), and Schrader (.400) are all hitting .400 or better.

Up Next

The two teams close out the weekend series as the Purple Eagles look to sweep the Spiders. First pitch is scheduled for noon on Sunday in Richmond.

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