Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team notched its first MAAC sweep of the season as the Purple Eagles took a doubleheader from the Iona Gaels on Sunday.
Game One (W, 12-3)
The Purple Eagle bats got going right from the start as Niagara took a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Nick Groves opened the inning with a single and then advanced to second on a passed ball. After Brady Desjardins drew a walk, Eric Rataczak singled home Groves from second to give Niagara a 1-0 lead. Two pitches later, Gavin Schrader doubled to left center that brought home both runners and gave Niagara a 3-0 lead. After a pair of groundouts and Schrader on third, both Rees Kozar and Matt Ward drew walks to load the bases. Nick Monile stepped to the plate and singled to left field that brought both Schrader and Kozar home to take a 5-0 lead.
Groves opened the second inning with a single and then moved to second on a Desjardins walk. After a strikeout and a fielder's choice Niagara had runners on the corners with two outs for Vincent Mauro. On the first pitch he saw, Mauro singled up the middle to bring home Groves with the sixth Niagara run.
The Purple Eagles got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as Monile drew a two out walk. Monile swiped second before Groves drew a four pitch walk to put runners on first and second. With a 3-1 count, Desjardins singled to center field that brought home Monile from second to make it 7-0 Niagara.
Neither team scored again until the Purple Eagles scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kelly Corl opened the inning with a ground rule double to right center. Kozar was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. Ward came to the plate and despite being in an 0-2 hole he singled back up the middle to bring Corl home and move Kozar to third. One pitch later, Monile singled to left field that made it 9-0 Niagara as Kozar scored from third. Following a pitching change, Groves doubled to left center that brought both Monile and Ward home to make it 11-0. After a Desjardins flyout moved Groves to third, Rataczak singled home Groves with the 12th Niagara run.
Iona scored three runs in the top of the ninth but could not make any more of a dent in the Niagara lead.
Game One Notes
· Preston Prince made his season debut for the Purple Eagles as he started on the mound for the Purple Eagles. He went three full innings while not allowing a run as he struckout five batters.
· Zac Laird did not allow a hit in his two scoreless innings as he struckout three batters in the two innings.
· Steven Hospital picked up his first win of the season as he went 3.2 innings while striking out four batters in his outing.
· The Purple Eagles had 16 hits in the game while allowing just six Iona hits.
· All nine starters notched at least one hit in the game as Groves led the way with three hits. Desjardins, Rataczak, Schrader, Mauro, and Monile all had two hits in the game.
· Seven Purple Eagles had at least one RBI as Monile had a team high three. Groves, Rataczak, and Schrader each had two runs batted in.
· The Purple Eagles earned eight walks in the game, both Monile and Desjardins drew two walks.
Game Two (W, 7-6)
Unlike the first two games of the series, neither team opened the scoring until the top of the third inning. Iona pushed across three runs to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Purple Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rataczak opened the frame with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch after a flyout. After a strikeout, Corl doubled to left center to bring home Rataczak with the first Purple Eagle run of the game.
Niagara got another run back in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Iona lead to 3-2. Groves was hit by a pitch to open the inning and then moved to second base on a Monile single. Groves came across to score one pitch later as Desjardins laid down a bunt, but Iona allowed him to reach on an error, Groves came home from second on the play.
The Gaels opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a pitching change as they had a 3-2 lead. Mauro drew a four pitch walk to open the frame. Despite seeing four straight balls to Mauro, Corl attacked the first pitch he saw and blasted it over the right centerfield wall to give the Purple Eagles a 4-3 lead.
Iona battled back in the top of the seventh as they scored a pair of runs to take a 5-4 lead.
The Iona lead was short-lived as Rataczak blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at five.
Iona took the lead back in the top of the eighth as they scored their sixth run off an error with two outs.
Mauro opened the bottom of the eighth inning with a ground rule double to left center as the Purple Eagles looked to tie the game. After a strikeout, Kozar singled home Mauro to tie the game at six. Nate Milk came into the game to pinch run for Kozar as he represented the go-ahead run. Milk swiped second to get into scoring position with one out. After a strikeout, Groves came to the plate. On a 2-2 pitch he slapped a fastball through the left side that brought Milk home with the go ahead run.
Iona went down 1,2,3 in the ninth as they could not notch a comeback.
Game Two Notes
· Carter Fink started on the mound for the Purple Eagles and went 3.2 innings while allowing three runs on three hits while striking out six batters.
· Ryan Minckler pitched 2.1 innings while striking out two batters and not allowing a run.
· Zach Cameron picked up his fourth win of the season as he went three innings while allowing three runs (two earned), he struck out three as he improved to 4-1 this season.
· Niagara generated 11 hits in the game and are now 12-3 this season when notching 10 or more hits in a game.
· Seven Purple Eagles notched a hit while Rataczak, Corl, Kozar, and Groves each had two hits.
· Corl had three RBI in the game while Rataczak, Kozar, and Groves all drove a run in.
· Six of Niagara's 11 hits were extra base hits.
Niagara Notes
· Niagara had eight players hit over .350 in the series with Monile leading the way with a .583 batting average as he went 7-12 with six RBI in the three games.
· Groves went 8-14 with eight RBI in the series.
· Niagara hit .407 on the weekend while limiting Iona to a .266 average.
· The Purple Eagles are leading the MAAC this season in hitting as they are hitting .319 as a team.
· Monile is second in the MAAC in hitting as he has a .433 average this season while Rataczak is fourth in the MAAC with a .423 average. Desjardins is seventh in the MAAC with a .358 average. Schrader is hitting .353 which is eighth in the MAAC while Groves is ninth in the MAAC with a .352 average.
· Cameron leads the MAAC in wins with four this season. Opposing hitters are hitting just .200 against him which is the fourth best in the MAAC.
· Niagara opens MAAC play 3-0 for the second straight season.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles open stretch of six straight road games as they travel to Marist next weekend to take on the Red Foxes in a three-game series starting on Thursday, first pitch is slated for 3 PM.
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