Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team notched their ninth win of the season as they defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins in a non-conference game on Tuesday. Niagara defeated the Griffs 7-4 at Bobo Field.
How it Happened
The Purple Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning after the Griffs were held in check in the top of the inning. On a 2-1 pitch, Nick Groves hit his second homer of the season to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.
It wasn't until the top of the third that the Griffs got on the board after they manufactured a run following a leadoff single.
Niagara responded in the bottom half of the inning as they took the lead back. Kelly Corl walked with one out in the inning which was followed by an Eric Rataczak single that put runners on the corners. Gavin Schrader stepped to the plate and drove a 2-2 pitch to center field for a sacrifice fly to give Niagara a 2-1 lead.
The Griffs answered back and hit a solo homer to leadoff the fourth inning to tie the game at two.
The Purple Eagles once again responded in the bottom of the fourth inning. Matt Wald opened the inning with a walk which was followed by a single from Tommy Takayoshi. Nick Monile looked to get a sacrifice bunt down but ended up beating the play at first to load the bases with no outs in the inning. Brady Desjardins and Groves both drove in runs on sacrifice flies to give Niagara a 4-2 lead.
Canisius threatened in the top of the sixth as they had the bases loaded with two outs. Liam Reynolds came out of the bullpen and struckout the lone batter he faced to keep it a 4-2 Niagara lead.
In the bottom of the six Monile beat out an infield single which was followed by Desjardins reaching on a fielder's choice after a Canisius error. Groves then drew a walk to load the bases. After a pair of outs, Schrader drew a four pitch walk to bring home the fifth Purple Eagle run. Vincent Mauro was then hit by a pitch to bring home the sixth Niagara run.
The Griffs once again responded in the top of the seven as they notched two runs to make it 6-4. Ryan Minkler came in to close out the inning as he got a strikeout and a lineout with runners on first and second with one out.
Niagara added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Groves legged out a high chopped to first base. Corl grounded out into a fielder's choice and replaced Groves on first with one out. Rataczak then reached on an error to put runners on first and second with one out. Schrader stepped into the box and singled to bring home Corl with the seventh Niagara run.
In the ninth Zach Cameron picked up the save as he worked around two two out hits from the Griffs.
Niagara Notes
· Niagara improves to 9-2 on the season, all of which have been non-conference games. Niagara won just 10 non-conference games all of last season as they won 24 games.
· It was the first time since the 2019 season that Niagara played a home game in the month of March. Niagara's last home win in the month of March came on Mar. 27, 2016 in an 8-2 win over Siena.
· Groves extended his on-base streak to 31 games as he went 2-3 with two RBI and a walk.
· Carter Fink made his first appearance at Bobo Field as he started on the mound for Niagara, he went four innings while allowing two runs and striking out four batters.
· Noah Richardson went 1.2 innings out of the mound while allowing no hits and striking out three.
· Reynolds picked up his second career win as he struckout the only batter he saw on six pitches.
· Minckler worked out of a jam as he got a pair of outs out of the pen.
· Gage Wheaton worked the eighth inning for the Purple Eagles. He needed just nine pitches to get a pair of groundouts and a flyout.
· Cameron notched his fifth save of the season as he got a pair of strikeouts and a groundout in the ninth inning. Cameron is now tied for the NCAA lead with five saves.
· Monile went 3-4 at the plate while also scoring a run.
· Groves and Rataczek both had two hits for the Purple Eagles.
· Schrader now has 12 RBIs this season after having three against the Griffs.
· Niagara's team batting average is .300 this season which leads the MAAC.
· Opponents are hitting just .238 against Niagara this season. Niagara's pitching staff has a combined 3.94 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP this season.
· Prior to the game, Cameron was named MAAC Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles head back on the road for three game non-conference series against UNC-Asheville. Game one is slated for 3 PM on Friday in Asheville.
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