Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team notched its 28th win of the season as the Purple Eagles downed Quinnipiac 10-7 at Bobo Field on Friday afternoon.
How it Happened
The Bobcats opened the scoring on the second pitch of the game as they hit a solo homer to open the scoring.
Quinnipiac added to its lead in the top of the fourth inning on three hits as three Bobcats came across to score to make it 4-0.
Niagara started its comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning as Nick Monile drew a walk to open the inning. Vincent Mauro then singled which was followed by a Rees Kozar walk to load the bases. Matt Ward then worked a seven pitch walk to bring home the first Niagara run. After a pitching change, Nick Groves singled to right center to bring home two runs to cut it to a 4-3 Quinnipiac lead. After a double play left just Groves on second with two outs, Eric Rataczak hit a ground rule double to right center to bring home Groves with the tying run. Three pitches later, Gavin Schrader hit a two-run homer down the right field line to give Niagara a 6-4 lead.
Quinnipiac got a run back in the top of sixth but left the bases loaded as Niagara's lead held at 6-5.
Niagara took its two-run lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Kozar drove in Monile with a sacrifice fly after Monile singled to open the and inning and moved to third on a double from Mauro.
The Purple Eagles increased their lead to 9-5 in the bottom of the seventh. Rataczak opened the inning with a walk and moved to second on an infield single from Schrader. After an out, Monile put down a bunt and reached first safely, the throw got away and allowed both Rataczak and Schrader to score to give Niagara a 9-5 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ward opened the inning with a double and later moved to third on a one out flyout. With two outs in the inning, Rataczak singled up the middle to bring home Ward with the 10th Niagara run.
Quinnipiac looked a for a comeback in the ninth, despite getting two runs, the Bobcats left the bases loaded as Zach Cameron struck out the final batter of the game.
Niagara Notes
· Maximilian Ramirez IV started for the Purple Eagles; he went four innings while allowing four runs on five hits while striking out two. Ramirez has started 12 games this season, Niagara is 7-5 when he starts.
· Noah Richardson picked up his fifth win of the season and is now 5-0 out of the bullpen this season. He went 1.1 innings while allowing a run on two hits while striking out two.
· Steven Hospital pitched a scoreless 2.2 innings while allowing just one hit. He struck out one while inducing five groundouts and two flyouts.
· Cameron notched his MAAC leading ninth save of the season as he recorded the final two outs of the game with the bases loaded. He got a groundout and struck out the final batter of the game. His ERA is now 2.95.
· Niagara notched 11 hits in the game, in games in which the Purple Eagles have 10+ hits, they are 20-4 this season. Niagara is also 20-4 this season when notching more hits then their opponents.
· Rataczak, Schrader, Monile, and Mauro all had two hits in the game. It is Rataczak's 22nd multi hit game of the season, Schrader's 13th, Monile's 13th, and Mauro's 12th of the season.
· Brady Desjardins notched the first hit of the game for the Purple Eagles, he improved his on base streak to 18 games. Groves extended his on base streak to 16 games and improved his hitting streak to seven games as he went 1-4 with two RBI.
· Rataczak, Schrader, and Groves all drove in two runs. It is the 16th time this season Rataczak has driven in multiple runs, Schrader has 10 multi-RBI games this season, while Groves has eight this season.
· As a team Niagara is hitting .301 this season which is second best in the MAAC. Rataczak improved his batting average from .419 to .424 after going 2-3 on Friday, he leads the MAAC in hitting.
· The Purple Eagles are one win away from tying the program record for wins that was set in 1975. Niagara currently has 28 wins which is the most wins in the MAAC this season. Niagara and Fairfield are tied atop the MAAC standings at 14-2 in MAAC play this season.
· Niagara is now 9-0 at Bobo Field this season.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles and Bobcats play the second game of the three-game weekend series on Saturday with first pitch slated for 2 PM at Bobo Field.
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