Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara baseball team secured its ninth series win of the season with a 16-9 win over Quinnipiac on Saturday at Bobo Field. With the win, the Purple Eagles tied the program record for wins in a season at 29.
How it Happened
Just like on Friday, the Bobcats opened the scoring in the first inning as they took a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout.
The Purple Eagles responded in the bottom of the first inning. Nick Groves opened the frame with a single and then moved to second after an Eric Rataczak walk. With one out, Gavin Schrader came to the plate and blasted a three-run homer over the left center field wall to give Niagara a 3-1 lead.
Quinnipiac got a run back in the second inning as they scored on a Niagara error.
The Niagara bats got back to work in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs in the inning, Tommy Takayoshi drew an eight pitch walk to get a runner on. Three pitches later, Groves doubled to right center to put runners on second and third for Brady Desjardins. Desjardins singled through the infield to bring home both runners and to increase the Niagara lead to 5-2.
Schrader led off the bottom of the third inning after the Bobcats went scoreless in the top half of the frame. After swinging through the first pitch, Schrader blasted his second homer of the game over the right field wall to give the Purple Eagles a 6-2 lead.
After not scoring in the fourth the Purple Eagles were back on the board in the fifth. Vincent Mauro was hit by a pitch with one out in the inning and then stole second. Nick Monile then put down a bunt on an 0-1 pitch and reached first safely, the throw got by the first basemen which allowed Mauro to score the seventh Niagara run. Two pitches later, Kelly Corl singled home Monile from second to make it an 8-2 game. With Corl on first, Jason Green worked a 3-2 count. On the 3-2 pitch, he hit his second homer of the season over the left center field wall to give Niagara a 10-2 lead.
Quinnipiac notched four runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Niagara lead to 10-6.
Niagara made it a five-run lead once again in the bottom of the seventh inning as a run came across to score on a bases loaded double play.
In the bottom of the eighth inning the Purple Eagles added some insurance runs. Schrader opened the inning with a single and moved up to third on a two base error by the Quinnipiac center fielder. On the very next pitch, Rees Kozar singled up the middle to make it a 12-6 Niagara lead. After a fielder's choice and a popout, Takayoshi came to the plate with runners on first and second. On a 1-0 pitch he grounded a ball to third base, the third basemen went to second base for the force out, but Jake Hutchins beat the ball to the bag to extend the inning. Groves then drew a bases loaded walk to make it a 13-6 game. Four pitches later, Desjardins reached on an error that brought home three Purple Eagles to make it 16-6.
Quinnipiac tallied three runs in the top of the ninth but could not mount any more of a comeback.
Niagara Notes
· Preston Prince started on the mound for Niagara. He went four innings while allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking out four.
· Ryan Mickler picked up his fifth win of the season, he went 2.2 innings while allowing four unearned runs on three hits. He struck out two while inducing three flyouts and three groundouts.
· Liam Reynolds struck out a career high five batters as he picked up his second save of the season. He went 2.1 innings while allowing three runs on three hits while also getting two flyouts.
· Schrader went 4-5 at the plate while driving in four runs. It is the third time this season that he has driven in four or more runs. He now has 14 multi hit games this season and two with four or more hits. It is the second time in his career that he has hit two homers in a game, the other being Mar. 14, 2023, against Portland.
· Groves had three hits at the plate while also drawing a walk, he has now reached safely in 18 straight games while having a hit in eight straight games.
· Desjardins reached for the 19th straight game as he had a hit and two RBI.
· Along with Groves and Schrader, Monile, Green, and Takayoshi each had multiple hits in the game.
· Nine Purple Eagles had a hit in the game including eight of nine starters.
· Schrader and Groves each scored three times as 10 different Purple Eagles crossed the plate.
· Niagara notched 17 hits in the game, it is the fourth time this season that the Purple Eagles tallied 17 hits. Niagara had notched 15 or more hits in seven games this season and are 6-1 in those games.
· The Purple Eagles outhit their opponents for the 25th time this season, they are 21-4 when outhitting their opponents. Niagara is also 21-4 this season when tallying 10 or more hits.
· Niagara is 15-2 in MAAC play this season and is tied with Fairfield for the top spot in the MAAC. Niagara's 29 wins are the most in the MAAC.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles look to secure a program record 30th win of the season on Sunday at Bobo Field as the two teams close out the weekend series. First pitch between Niagara and Quinnipiac is scheduled for Noon at Bobo Field.
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