Charlotte, NC—The Niagara baseball team dropped their first game of the season to Queens on Friday evening, 6-1.

How it Happened

Niagara opened the scoring in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Nick Groves ripped the first pitch of the game to the fence, and it bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. After a strikeout, Eric Rataczek singled to center which drove home Groves from second base.

After Queens was held off the board in the bottom of the first, they took a 2-1 lead in the second inning.

In the third, Queens added two more runs to make it 4-1.

Both teams were then held scoreless until the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Queens added two more runs to make it 6-1.

Niagara Notes

·       Groves notched two hits and had extended his on-base streak, the streak dates back to last season and now sits at 25 games.

·       Zac Laird was the first Purple Eagle out of the bullpen and went 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out five batters.

·       Noah Richardson pitched 1.2 innings while allowing just one hit while striking out five batters.

·       Jack Dickinson worked out a jam in the bottom of the eighth inning while pitching a scoreless inning while striking out one.

·       Rataczek now has eight RBI this season which leads Niagara and the MAAC.

·       As a team Niagara is hitting .277 which is second in the MAAC.

·       Niagara's team ERA of 3.38 is the best in the MAAC.

·       The Niagara pitching staff struckout 15 batters in the game. It is the most in a game this season by the Niagara staff.

Up Next

Niagara and Queens are back on the field on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 PM.

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