Schenectady, N.Y. — Niagara baseball split a Saturday doubleheader against Siena, dropping the first game 9-8 in extra innings, before coming out victorious 8-6 in the nightcap.

The Purple Eagles moved to 7-11, 3-3 MAAC, while the Saints moved to 7-13, 3-6 MAAC.

Game One

Niagara erupted for five runs to start the game. Jacob Brooks led off with a single to center field and was hit in by Elijha Hammill, who reached on a hit by pitch. With one out, Rees Kozar singled to right center to load the bases, and Tyler Vivacqua followed with a two-run single that scored Hammill and Brooks. Curtis McKay then singled through the left side to score Kozar, and Nick Cote doubled to right center to plate McKay and Vivacqua. 

Niagara added a run in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by Vivacqua, who drove in Hammill to extend the lead to 6-0.

Siena got on the board in the bottom of the frame as the Saints plated two runs on an error and a fielder's choice to cut the lead to four.

McKay doubled to left center to open the third inning, worked to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-2.

Siena found its groove in the fifth erupting for five runs to knot the game up at seven. Three consecutive singles by the Saints loaded the bases with nobody out against Fink, and Venditti doubled to left field to clear two runners. 

Fink was lifted for Luke Glenn. Paradine reached on an error to score two more, and Cole Hambly doubled to right center to bring in another run.

Niagara responded with a run to regain a 8-7 lead. Brooks and Hammill drew back-to-back four-pitch walks before Konings recorded an RBI single through the left side to score Brooks.

Nathan Harb replaced Glenn in the seventh then Bergamotto grounded into a double play that scored Paradine as Siena tied the game at eight.

The Saints garnered their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth as Andrew Damiani replaced Harb and Thorsen singled up the middle to score Thorburn for a 8-7 Siena lead.

Niagara mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth as McKay led off with a walk, and with two outs Jason Green drilled a two-run double to right center scoring McKay to knot the game at nine.

Eddie Dolansky came on in relief for extra innings. Camacho then singled to left center to score Venditti and walk off the Purple Eagles.

Game Two

Siena struck for two runs in the bottom half of the first to gain an early advantage. Venditti scored on a throwing error before Thorburn scored on a wild pitch.

Niagara split the Saints lead in half as Brooks singled to third base to score Vivacqua and trim the deficit to 2-1.

The Purple Eagles broke through for two runs in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Kozar hit an RBI double to right center that scored Konings before Green lined out to center on a sacrifice fly to plate Kozar. Niagara starter Gage Wheaton held Siena in order in the third.

After two scoreless innings Siena knotted the game at three when Camacho hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Paradine. 

The Purple Eagles regained their lead in the top of the seventh. Shawn Cameron reached on a fielder's choice that scored Vivacqua, making it 4-3. 

The lead did not last long however as Siena scored in the bottom half against reliever Luke Glenn to retake a 5-4 lead. 

Siena extended their lead, plating two more runs in the eighth when Sparks singled to right to score both Vandever and Camacho. Eddie Dolansky replaced Glenn and limited further damage, striking out Venditti with two on to end the inning.

Niagara completed the comeback in the top of the fifth, erupting for five runs. McKay got things started with a single to left, scoring Kozar to make it 6-5. Brooks delivered a two-run single through the left side to score McKay and Vivacqua for a 7-6 lead. Hammill followed with an RBI single to second that scored Matthew Ganschow and made it 8-6. Konings then singled down the right field line to score Brooks for the final run. 

Game Notes

Niagara is now 54-88 all-time against Siena

Brooks recorded seven hits through the two games, with four coming in the nightcap

Kozar extended his on-base streak to 17 games

Dolansky earned his first collegiate win in the nightcap

Green recorded back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time this season

Up Next

Niagara heads home for the first time this season to face-off against Iona in a three-game series starting on March 27.