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Niagara University Athletics

McKay
@SophiePallmanPhotography
10
Winner Niagara University NIA 19-27, 14-26 MAAC
7
Canisius CAN 14-31, 10-19 MAAC
Winner
Niagara University NIA
19-27, 14-26 MAAC
10
Final
7
Canisius CAN
14-31, 10-19 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Niagara University NIA 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 10 10 2
Canisius CAN 1 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 7 10 3

W: Fink, Carter (2-1) L: LoPinto, Joe (5-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Niagara Completes the Sweep of Canisius and Clinches Spot in the MAAC Championship

Buffalo, N.Y. — Niagara (19-27, 14-16 MAAC) completed the series sweep over Battle of the Bridge rival Canisius 10-7 on Saturday at the Demske Sports Complex to clinch a spot in the MAAC Championship.

How It Happened

For the third straight game in the series Niagara once again got on the board first in the first inning when Rees Kozar scored on a Golden Griffins error and then Jason Green hit a two run homer over the center field fence.

Canisius responded with one run in the bottom of the frame, but the Purple Eagles bounced right back in the second with a leadoff homer from Nate Milk. The Golden Griffins tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second to make it a one run game.

The Griffs tied up the game at four in the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run. Kozar and Curtis McKay then both hit home runs in the seventh to reinstate the Purple Eagles lead. 

The Golden Griffins once again knotted up the game in the bottom of the frame, this time at seven, highlighted by a home run from Trent Rumley. The Purple Eagles regained their lead again, starting with an RBI single from Evan Wilde that plated Jacobs Brooks, followed by an RBI double from Tyler Vivacqua that brought home Wilde.

McKay added to the Purple Eagles lead with his second home run of the contest to make it a three run game in the ninth.

Nate Bennett got the start for the Purple and White, tossing 1.1 innings, while striking out two batters. CJ Hurley came on for relief to throw 2.2 innings, before Maximillian Ramirez IV took over for 2.2 innings. Carter Fink took over for Ramirez and closed out the game with the final 2.1 innings.

Niagara Notes

• Niagara is now 115-111-1 against Canisius.

• McKay recorded his second multi home run game of the season.

• Brooks ended the regular season reaching base in 38 of the 44 games.

• The Purple Eagles hit five home runs in back-to-back games and the third time this season.

Up Next

Niagara secured the No. 8 seed in the MAAC tournament and will face the No. 5 seed at 11 am on May 20 in Pomona, NY.

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