NORFOLK, Va. — Niagara baseball dropped a Saturday doubleheader to Old Dominion 4-5, 5-8 to wrap up the weekend non-conference series.
The Purple Eagles fell to 0-6 on the young season, while the Monarchs improved to 5-2.
Game One
After two scoreless innings Noah Konings got Niagara their first hit of the game but could not get brought home. Old Dominion broke through first on a sac fly to plate Jay.
The Monarchs doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth with Leite scoring on an error by the shortstop to make it 2-0.
Niagara made a pitching change to start the bottom of the fifth, bringing in Luke Glenn in for starter Nate Bennett. Bennett finished his outing having allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in four innings, striking out six. Glenn was sharp, retiring Johnson, Slater and Aiken in order, the last on a strikeout looking.
Niagara threatened to break through in the sixth. Konings singled to center field to start the inning, and Curtis McKay followed with a single through the left side, moving Konings to second. With two outs, Jason Green drew a walk on four pitches to load the bases with two outs but the Purple Eagles could not plate a run.
The seventh inning was the turning point for Niagara, Konings singled to second base, scoring Nate Milk to cut the deficit to 2-1.Rees Kozar followed with a two-run double that cleared the bases, scoring both Konings and Elijha Hammill and giving Niagara a 3-2 lead.
McKay grounded out to third, but a wild pitch by new reliever Schumann allowed Kozar to score an unearned run, extending the lead to 4-2.
Old Dominion answered immediately in the bottom of the seventh Nathan Harb remained on to pitch, and Johnson hit a solo home run to left field to make it 4-3.
Andrew Damiani came on for Niagara and got out of the inning with a Monarchs batter striking out looking.
Old Dominion took control in the eighth, plating five runs, highlighted by a 2-RBI double off the bat of Aiken.
Niagara tried to mount a comeback in the ninth when Jacob Brooks lined a single to center that scored McKay, making it 8-5, but the Purple Eagles could not complete the comeback.
Game Two
Niagara put two on in the second when Brooks singled to center and Hammill followed with a single of her own, but could not get runs on the board.
The Purple Eagles finally broke through in the fourth with its biggest inning of the season. Brooks singled to center and Hammill singled to third, and a walk to Milk loaded the bases. Shawn Cameron was hit by a pitch to score Brooks and make it 1-0. With the bases still loaded, starter Okonkwo was replaced by Yarussi, who promptly walked Tyler Vivacqua to force in Hammill for a 2-0 lead. Konings then singled to center to score Cameron and Milk, making it a 4-0 cushion.
Old Dominion scored once in the bottom half of the sixth to make it 4-1. The Monarchs erupted for four runs in the bottom half to take a 5-4 lead, three of which coming on RBI singles.
In the ninth, Niagara gave itself one last chance. Nick Cote reached on a third-base error, and was replaced by pinch runner M. Ganschow, and C. McKay came in to pinch hit and drew a walk, moving Ganschow to second. After Brooks popped up on a bunt attempt, Hammill singled through the left side to load the bases with one out, but it was not enough as the Purple Eagles fell 5-4.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 0-6 all-time against Old Dominion
Konings went 5-for-10 in the doubleheader
Brooks recorded four base hits in the nightcap, combining four six hits between the two games
Hammill went 3-for-5 in the nightcap for a season-high in hits
Both starters Bennett and Wheaton stuck out six batters respectively
Up Next
Niagara continues their road swing heading to Portland for a three game series beginning on Friday February 27.
