Norfolk, Va. - Niagara baseball recorded a season-high four runs but ultimately fell to Old Dominion 5-4 in the series opener Friday afternoon.

The Purple Eagles fell to 0-4, while the Monarchs improved to 2-2.

Starting pitcher Carter Fink put up a scoreless inning to start the game with a strikeout and a pickoff. Niagara's bats backed up Fink's by taking the lead in the top of the second. Rees Kozar doubled to left-center to plate Nick Cote to put the Purple Eagles up one.

Old Dominion answered quickly with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the frame to knot the contest up at one. 

Niagara regained the lead in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Curtis McKay to bring home Noah Konings, who doubled earlier in the inning.

Once again the lead was short lived as the Monarchs answered in the bottom of the frame with a grand slam from Leite. 

After a scoreless fourth inning Niagara saw a glimmer of hope with a two-run homer from McKay which would bring the Purple Eagles deficit down to one at 5-4. Fink closed out the inning with two more strikeouts.

Fink rounded out his day in the sixth allowing five runs on six hits, with five strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.

Andrew Damiani came in for relief of Fink to start the seventh, not allowing a single batter to reach base. Kozar tacked on another double in the eighth to give Niagara a runner in scoring position, but ultimately could not complete the comeback.
Game Notes

Niagara is now 0-4 all-time against Old Dominion

This was the first time the Purple Eagles faced the Monarchs since 1989

Niagara's four runs are the most in a game this season

Konings recorded his first multi-hit game as a Purple Eagles

Kozar tallied his first mult-hit game of the season

Up Next

Niagara continues their weekend series with Old Dominion Saturday February 21 at 2:00 PM.