CHICAGO, ILL — Niagara baseball split its Friday afternoon doubleheader with Valparaiso, taking game one by the final of 11-1, before falling in the nightcap, 16-11 in the Windy City.
Game 1: Niagara 11, Valpo 1
Matthew DelVecchio pitched seven strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits to earn his first win of the season as Niagara defeated Valparaiso 11-1.
Curtis McKay paced the Purple Eagles' offense with three hits and four RBIs, while
Elijha Hammill and
Nate Milk each scored twice.
Jason Green delivered a key three-run home run for Niagara, who pounded out 14 hits against Valparaiso pitching.
The Purple Eagles jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after one inning and gradually pulled away with two runs in the fourth, two in the sixth, and three more in the eighth. Valparaiso's lone run came in the first inning.
Andrew Damiani closed out the game with a scoreless inning of relief for Niagara, striking out three of the six batters he faced.
Game 2: Valpo 16, Niagara 11
In the nightcap, Niagara couldn't maintain momentum despite 13 hits, as the Valparaiso Beacons responded with a 16-11 victory in a slugfest.
Connor Schramm led Niagara's offense in game two, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs.
Camden Sanders also homered as part of his two-hit, two-RBI performance, while
Carter Aarts added a home run of his own.
Valparaiso jumped ahead early with three runs in the first and four in the second. Though Niagara mounted several rallies, including a three-run seventh and four-run ninth, they couldn't overcome Valpo's offensive output.
The Purple Eagles struggled on the mound in game two, using seven pitchers with starter
Gage Wheaton taking the loss after allowing six runs in one inning of work.
Niagara Notes
• The 11-1 win in the first game marked the first win for head coach
Matt Spatafora.
• Niagara recorded a season-best 13 hits in game one before topping that total in game two with 14.
• The Purple Eagle offense also set single-game season-highs in runs (11), RBI (11), doubles (4), home runs (3), walks (8), and triples (1).
• Green, Schramm, and Aarts all went deep for their first home runs of the season.
• McKay went 3-for-3 in game one with four RBI while Schramm drove in four in game two.
• Hammill went 4-for-7 across both game with four runs and four walks.
• Milk finished the day 4-for-9 at the plate.
• DelVecchio earned his first win and quality start of the season.
• The bullpen combined to allow one hit and no runs in game one.
Up Next
Niagara returns to the diamond on Sunday when it closes out its three-game set with Valpo. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET.
