Asheville, N.C.—The Niagara baseball team fell in a doubleheader to UNC-Asheville on Saturday. Niagara fell 9-7 in 10 innings in the first game and fell 15-9 in the second game.
Game One (L, 9-7 (10))
Nick Groves opened the game by drawing a six pitch walk which was followed by a double to left center by Brady Desjardins. After a groundout, Matt Ward singled home two runs to make it a 2-0 game in the top of the first.
UNC-Asheville responded in the bottom of the first as they notched a two-run triple to tie the game at two.
The offense got back on the board in the top of the fourth. Kelly Corl opened the inning with a single, after a pair of outs, Corl swiped second to get into scoring position. On a 2-1 pitch Colin Bruce singled to left field to drive in Corl to give Niagara a 3-2 lead.
Niagara was back on the board in the top of the sixth inning as Ward doubled to left center to start the inning. Corl then walked to put runners on first and second. Matt Torresan then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up 90 feet. Tommy Takayoshi stepped up to the plate and singled to right field on the first pitch he saw to drive in both runners.
In the top of the seventh Groves drew a walk to open the inning and then swiped second. On a 1-2 pitch, Brady Desjardins homered to right field to make it a 7-2 game.
The Bulldogs got a run back in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-3. They then made it a 7-4 Niagara lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, UNC-Asheville tied the game with a three-run home run.
The Bulldogs hit a walkoff two run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to take the win.
Game One Notes
· Groves extended his on-base streak to 31 games dating back to last season as he walked twice.
· Ward had three hits in the game while scoring a run and driving in two runs.
· Desjardins, Corl, and Groves all scored two runs in the game.
· Maximilian Ramirez IV started on the mound and went four innings while allowing two runs while striking out five batters.
· Ryan Minckler went 2.2 innings out of the bullpen while allowing one run on one hit, he struck out two batters.
· Five players combined for eight Niagara hits.
Game Two (L, 15-9)
The Bulldog bats were warmed up to start game two as they scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an 8-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, Takayoshi got the Purple Eagles on the board with a out two home solo homer.
Asheville responded in the bottom of the first as they made it a 9-1 lead.
Niagara got back on the board in the top of the fifth. Corl singled to left field with two out to start a rally. Rees Kozar then ripped a double to right center that brought Corl home from first. Niagara could not continue the two-out rally.
The Bulldogs made it a 12-2 game in the bottom of the fifth as they scored three runs.
In the top of the seventh, Takayoshi hit his second homer of the game to open the inning. Corl then singled with no outs. After a flyout, Nick Monile singled to put two runners on. Following a wild pitch, both runners moved into scoring position with one out. Groves then notched a two run double to left center to make it 12-5. Four pitches later, Desjardins singled home Groves to make it 12-6. Eric Rataczak stepped to the plate following a pitching change. Rataczak doubled to right field which moved Desjardins to third. Schrader then had a productive groundout as he drove in the seventh Niagara run.
In the bottom of the seven, the Bulldogs scored three runs on a three-run double.
Schrader hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, but Niagara could not mount a comeback.
Game Two Notes
· Groves extended his on-base streak to 32 games as he had a pair of hits.
· Niagara had 17 hits in the game, it is their second most hits in a game this season.
· The Purple Eagles scored nine runs, it is the 11th time this season that Niagara has scored five or more runs.
· Corl had four hits in the game, it is his third four hit game in his Niagara career.
· Takayoshi hit his first two NCAA homers in the game. He is the first Purple Eagle to hit two homers in a game since Vincent Mauro hit two homers against Canisius on May 5, 2023.
· Eight of the nine starters had a hit in the game.
· Ratazak went 3-5 in the game and is now hitting .459 which leads Niagara and the MAAC.
· Ratazak, Monile, and Schrader all rank in the top 10 in the MAAC in batting average.
· As a team, Niagara is hitting .306 which leads the MAAC.
· Niagara's pitching staff has a 4.92 ERA and opposing hitters are hitting just .238, both are the best in the MAAC.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles close out the three-game series on Sunday with first pitch schedule for 12 PM in Asheville.
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