Lawrenceville, N.J.—The Niagara baseball team evened its weekend road series with Rider on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win over the Broncs in 10 innings.
How it Happened
The Purple Eagles opened the scoring in the first inning as Brady Desjardins notched the first hit of the game with one out in the frame. After Desjardins doubled to right center, Eric Rataczak had a productive second out with a flyout to right field that moved Desjardins to third. Kelly Corl came to the plate and singled home Desjardins on a 3-1 pitch to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.
Rider tied the game at one in the bottom of the second inning.
Neither team scored again until the fifth inning. Desjardins drew a five pitch walk with one out in the frame which was followed by a Rataczak single to put runners on first and second. With Corl at the plate, Rider attempted to pick Rataczak off at first and the ball got away to allow both runners to move up 90 feet. On a 2-1 pitch, Corl grounded out to short that brought home Desjardins with the second Niagara run.
Niagara held the 2-1 lead heading to the ninth inning. In the top of the ninth, the Purple Eagles loaded the bases with one out but could not drive in an insurance run.
Rider tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on a pair of hits. The Broncs looked to end it in the bottom of the ninth as they had runners on first and second with one out. On a 1-0 pitch, Rider grounded into a 5-3 double play to end the frame and send the game to extras.
In the top of the 10th, the middle of the Niagara lineup was due up. After a flyout, Gavin Schrader stepped to the plate. After fouling off the first pitch, he golfed a low inside pitch over the right centerfield wall to give the Purple Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Rider threatened in the bottom of the 10th as they advanced a runner to third base with two outs. Zach Cameron closed out the game with a strikeout stranding the tying run on third.
Niagara Notes
· Preston Prince started on the mound for the Purple Eagles. He went a season high 5.2 innings while allowing one run on five hits while striking out three. He produced seven flyouts and six groundouts.
· Cameron picked up his MAAC leading sixth win of the season as he went 4.1 innings while allowing one run on four hits while striking out two. He notched three flyouts and seven groundouts. His ERA is now 3.00 which leads all qualifying MAAC pitchers. He also leads the MAAC with eight saves this season.
· Schrader hit his fourth homer of the season; it was his first homer since Mar. 13 against James Madison.
· Corl drove in two runs as he went 1-4 at the plate. He has now driven in 24 runs this season. It is his eighth multi-RBI game of the season.
· Niagara drew five walks in the win with Desjardins, Corl, Vincent Mauro, Nick Monile, and Rees Kozar all drawing walks.
· Nick Groves and Schrader each had two hits in the win, while Desjardins, Corl, Monile, and Rataczak all had a hit.
· Despite allowing nine Rider hits, Niagara did not allow an extra base hit.
· It is the first time that Niagara has beat Rider on the road since Mar. 21, 2021.
· Niagara, Rider, and Fairfield are in a three-way tie for first place in the MAAC standings at 12-2 through 14 games.
· Niagara now has 25 wins this season which is already the most wins in a season since winning 26 games in 2006. Niagara has 13 games remaining in the regular season including 10 MAAC games.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles and Broncs play for the series win on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for Noon in Lawrenceville.
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