Dover, DE—The Niagara baseball team started their weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Delaware State on Friday. In game one the Purple Eagles won 7-1 before winning 13-3 in game two.

Game One (W, 7-1)

The Purple Eagles struck first in the top of the third inning. Nick Groves started the frame with a single. Kelly Corl was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. Eric Rataczek stepped to the plate and blasted a no doubt homer to give the Purple Eagles a 3-0 lead. For Rataczek it was his second homer of the season and his 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th RBIs of the season.

Neither team got back on the board until the top of the fifth as Niagara put up a four spot. Vincent Mauro started the two out rally with a double to right center. Matt Ward then stepped to the plate and singled him home to make it 4-0 Niagara.

After a pitching change, Rees Kozar was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs. Nick Monile singled up the middle and drove in Ward from second to put the Purple Eagles up 5-0. Brady Desjardins stepped to the plate and singled to left field that brought both Monile and Kozar to give Niagara a 7-0 lead.

Delaware State manufactured a run in the seventh inning but that would be all they got.

Game One Notes

·       Max Ramirez went 4.0 innings on the mound and allowed just three hits while not allowing a run. He struck out three batters in the outing. He picked up his second win of the season.

·       Noah Richardson went one inning out of the pen while allowing no runs on just one hit.

·       Jack Colella made his Purple Eagle debut and went an inning while allowing just one hit and no runs.

·       Jack Dickinson pitched the seventh for Niagara and allowed one unearned run while allowing one hit and striking out one.

·       Mauro had two extra base hits with a double and triple.

·       Niagara notched eight hits in the game with six different Purple Eagles notching a hit.

·       Groves extended his on base streak to 28 games in game one.

Game Two (W, 13-3)

The Purple Eagles got on the board early in the game once again. Groves led the game off with a single and then swiped second. After a groundout moved Groves to third, Rataczek flied out to left field but drove in Groves on the sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Niagara.

Niagara was back to it in the second inning as Mauro opened the inning with a walk. Tommy Takayoski then moved Mauro to second with a sac bunt. Kelly Corl came up to the plate and singled to put runners on the corner. Corl then swiped second to put two runners in scoring position. Nate Milk then drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Mauro made it a 2-0 game as he came across to score on a wild pitch. Desjardins doubled to right field and drove in two runs to make it 4-0. Groves then drew a walk which was followed by Monile getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rataczek drew a walk to force in a run and make it 5-0. After a strikeout Mauro singled home a pair to make it 7-0 game.

The Purple Eagles put up another four runs in the fourth inning to make it an 11-0 game. Groves, Monile, and Rataczek all drew walks to open the inning to load the bases. After a pitching change, Gavin Schrader singled to center to drive in the eighth Niagara run. Mauro then bounced into a fielder's choice but drove in the ninth Purple Eagle run. With runners on the corners, Takayoski singled to right field to drive in the 10^th Niagara run. After another fielder's choice, Milk legged out an infield single to drive in Mauro with the 11^th Niagara run.

Niagara added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning. Mauro singled with one out which was followed by a Takayoshi single to put runners on first and second. Corl singled home Mauro to make it 12-0 Niagara. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Milk drove in the 13^th Niagara run on a sacrifice fly.

Delaware State scored two runs in the sixth and an unearned run in the seventh.

Game Two Notes

·       It is the third time that Niagara has scored 10+ runs, they are 3-0 this season when scoring 10 or more runs.

·       Groves extended his on base streak to 29 games.

·       Nick Veselinovic pitched two innings while picking up the win in a bullpen game. He did not allow a run while getting four groundouts and one flyout.

·       Gage Wheaton pitched two perfect innings as he struckout two while not allowing a hit or walk.

·       Evan Wilde pitched a scoreless inning while getting two flyouts and one groundout.

·       Ryan Minckler closed out the sixth inning with a strikeout and a flyout.

·       Liam Reynolds pitched the seventh inning and allowed one unearned run while getting a pair of strikeouts.

·       Takayoski notched three hits in the win, it is his first career three hit game.

·       Mauro and Corl both had two hits.

·       Mauro had three RBIs while Milk, Desjardins, and Rataczek all had two RBI.

·       Eight Purple Eagles had hits in the win.

·       Both Mauro and Groves scored three runs for Niagara.

Up Next

Saturday's game against Delaware State has been cancelled due to potential weather in the area. The teams will now close out the weekend series on Sunday with first schedule for Noon.

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