Niagara University, N.Y. — Jason Green homered and drove in two runs, as Niagara baseball defeated Iona 3-2 Friday afternoon at Bobo Field.

Niagara improved to 8-11 overall and 4-3 in conference play, while the Gaels fell to 6-13, 4-6 MAAC.

Niagara wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Jacob Brooks led off with a single up the middle, and Elijha Hammill followed with an RBI double to right field that scored Brooks from third, giving the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead. 

Niagara starter Reuben Malamed pushed 2.2 scoreless innings, only allowing two hits and five strikeouts before Hayden Morrison came in for relief.

The Gaels finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Zollo singled through the left side to plate Oden and knot the game up at one.

The tie did not last long though, as Green blasted a homer to left center to reinstate the Purple Eagles lead, this time at 2-1.

Luke Glenn relieved Morrison as he finished with 3.0 innings pitched, allowing one run on one hit, striking out three.

Glenn threw a scoreless seventh as Niagara brought out Andrew Damiani to close out the contest in the eighth and ninth.

Niagara padded its advantage against reliever Lender in the eighth. Tyler Vivacqua opened with a single, swiped second base, and advanced to third on a passed ball. With Nick Cote at first following a walk, Green tallied his second RBI, plating Vivacqua to make it 3-1. 

Iona tried to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth as Costello homered to left-center, but Damiani closed out the game and secured the victory for the Purple Eagles.

Game Notes

Niagara is now 40-28 all-time against Iona

Kozar extended his on-base streak to 18 games

Hammill tied a career-high with three base knocks in the victory

Malamed struck out a career-high five batters

Konings is on a nine game hitting streak

Up Next

Niagara takes on Iona for the second game in the three-game series Saturday March 28 at 2:00 pm.