Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team improved to 7-0 in MAAC play on Friday afternoon as they defeated Mount St. Mary's 16-8 at Bobo Field.
How it Happened
The Purple Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as they took a 5-0 lead. Nick Monile opened the game with a walk and then swiped second. Brady Desjardins then grounded into a fielder's choice but advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop as he looked to get Monile out at third, Monile was safe on the play and Niagara had runners on second and third with no outs. Eric Rataczak singled through the left side on a 1-0 pitch that brought home Monile from third. With runners on the corners, Matt Ward moved Rataczak to second with a sacrifice bunt. After Gavin Schrader was hit by a pitch, Rees Kozar singled home Desjardins to make it 2-0 Niagara. Kelly Corl drove in the third Niagara run with a sacrifice fly. Vincent Mauro then singled home Schrader to make it a four run Niagara lead. Nate Milk stepped to the plate as the ninth Purple Eagle to come to the plate in the inning, Milk singled to left field and made it a 5-0 Niagara lead.
The Mount responded in the top of the second inning as they scored two runs. The Mountaineers eventually tied the game at five in the top of the fourth inning.
The tie was short lived as the Purple Eagles were back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Desjardins started the inning with a single which was followed by a Rataczak single, Desjardins moved to third on the play. Rataczak moved to second on a strikeout to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Schrader. Schrader roped a 2-1 pitch to left center that brought home both Niagara runners to make it 7-5 Niagara.
Niagara was back on the board in the bottom of the fifth, with two outs in the inning, Monile singled and was driven home with a Desjardins triple to increase the Niagara lead to 8-5.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Niagara put a seven spot on the scoreboard to take a 15-5 lead. Ward and Schrader led off the inning with singles to put runners on first and second. On a 3-2 pitch, Kozar doubled down the left field line to bring home Ward with the ninth Niagara run. Three pitches later Corl drove in the 10th Niagara run with a single. After a pitching change, a walk and a strikeout, Monile came to the plate and singled home a pair of runs on the first pitch he saw. Monile then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. After a strikeout, Rataczak drove in both runs with a single to left center. Ward then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Schrader came to the plate and hit a ground rule double to center field to bring home the 15th Niagara run.
The Purple Eagles scored their 16th run in the bottom of the seventh, Jake Hutchins scored on a Mount St. Mary's error.
Mount added three runs in the top of the ninth inning but could come sniff a ninth inning comeback as the Purple Eagles took home their 19th win of the season.
Niagara Notes
· Maximilian Ramirez IV started on the mound for the Purple Eagles, he went four innings while allowing five runs while striking out two.
· Noah Richardson went 2.1 innings while picking up his third win of the season. He allowed just one hit while striking out three batters in the outing.
· Steven Hospital went 1.2 innings after entering the game in the seventh inning with one out and the bases loaded. He didn't allow a run while not allowing a hit in the outing, he struckout two.
· Evan Wilde pitched the ninth for the Purple Eagles, he allowed just one hit while three unearned runs came across to score.
· Eight of the nine Purple Eagles starters came across to score at least once. Monile and Rataczak each scored three times while Desjardins, Schrader, and Kozar all scored twice.
· 10 Purple Eagles had at least one hit including all nine starters. Rataczak and Schrader had three hits each while Monile, Desjardins, Kozar, Ward, Corl, and Mauro all had two hits.
· Eight Purple Eagles drove in a run in the game. Rataczak, and Schrader each drove in three runs, Monile, Desjardins, Kozar, and Corl all drove in two runs.
· Niagara is 7-0 in MAAC play for the first time in program history. Niagara has already secured the best first 30 game start in program history as they are 20-9 in their first 29 games. The previous best 30 game start was 18-12 in 1975. The Purple Eagles finished the 1975 season with 29 wins which is a program record.
· The Purple Eagles finished with 20 hits, it is the 18th game this season with 10 or more hits, in those games, Niagara is 15-3.
· Niagara is now 17-3 this season when they outhit their opponents.
· The Purple Eagles are 10-0 this season when they score 10 or more runs.
· Niagara has outscored their opponents 239-170 this season.
· As a team, Niagara is hitting .317 which leads the MAAC.
· Monile leads the MAAC in hitting at .416 while Rataczak is hitting .414 this season to put him second in the MAAC.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles and Mount St. Mary's play the second game of their three-game set on Saturday at Bobo Field with first pitch scheduled for 3 PM.
Stay connected with Niagara Baseball on X(formally Twitter), Instagram and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and purpleeagles.com
