St. Bonaventure, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team traveled to St. Bonaventure on Tuesday to take on the Bonnies to close out non-conference play. The Purple Eagles defeated their Little Three rival 4-3 for their 32nd win of the season.
How it Happened
The Purple Eagles opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Nick Groves drew a walk to open the game and then moved to second on a groundout. After another groundout moved Groves to third, Gavin Schrader singled a 0-1 pitch to center to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.
St. Bonaventure tied the game at one in the bottom of the first as a runner came home on a Niagara error.
Neither team scored again until the fifth inning. Eric Rataczak opened the inning with a walk and then moved to third on a Schrader double. After a pair of popouts, Nick Monile looped a 2-1 pitch into left center to bring home a pair of Niagara runners. Niagara led 3-1 after five complete innings.
The Bonnies tied the game at three in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Following a St. Bonaventure pitching change, Kelly Corl blasted an 0-2 pitch over the left field wall to give Niagara a 4-3 lead.
The Purple Eagles held the Bonnies off the board in the eighth and ninth innings to take a 4-3 win.
Niagara Notes
· Freshman Jack Dickinson started on the mound for the Purple Eagles. He needed just 35 pitches to complete three full innings. He allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out two.
· Brady Kobitowich pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He allowed just one hit while getting three groundouts and three flyouts.
· Carter Fink picked up his third win of the season. He went one inning while allowing one hit and getting two groundouts and a flyout.
· Steven Hospital notched his second save of the season as he pitched the eighth and ninth innings. He allowed just one hit while inducing four groundouts and two flyouts.
· The Niagara pitching staff did not walk a batter in the win. It is the first time this season Niagara has not walked a batter. The last time Niagara did not walk a batter in a game was Apr. 21, 2023 against Fairfield.
· Corl hit his fourth homer of the season in the win.
· Six Purple Eagles notched a hit in the win as Niagara had 10 total hits. The Purple Eagles outhit the Bonnies 10-8, Niagara is 24-6 this season when tallying more hits then its opponents.
· Schrader went 3-5 at the plate while driving in a run and scoring a run.
· Brady Desjardins increased his on-base streak to 24 games as he went 2-5 at the plate.
· Groves drew a pair of walks to extend his on-base streak to 23 games.
· Niagara defeated St. Bonaventure in both non-conference games this season. Niagara has now defeated St. Bonaventure in four straight games dating back to 2022.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles close out the regular season with a three-game series against Canisius starting on Thursday in Downtown Buffalo. Niagara is 17-4 in MAAC play this season and sits one game back of Fairfield for first. The Purple Eagles are one game up on Rider who is in third at 16-5.
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