Hamden, Conn. — Niagara scored five runs in the first two innings defeating Quinnipiac 8-6 Thursday afternoon at QU Baseball Field in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.
The Purple Eagles improved to 10-12 overall and 6-4 in conference play, while the Bobcats fell to 12-15 and 5-5 MAAC.
Niagara wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Jacob Brooks led off with a single to center field, and Elijha Hammill followed immediately with a two-run home run down the right-field line to put the Purple Eagles up 2-0.
Quinnipiac answered in the bottom half, loading the bases with two outs on a walk, a wild pitch and two more walks. James Marino drew a bases-loaded walk to score Kyle Garbowski, and Peyton Vancas followed with another bases-loaded walk to plate Jack Balcer, evening the score at 2-2.
Niagara's biggest inning came in the second, when the Bobcats shortstop Alex Irizarry committed two errors that allowed three runs to score. Curtis McKay opened with a single and stole second. Brooks was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hammill reached on an error by Irizarry, plating McKay. Noah Konings then reached on a second Irizarry error, with two more runs scored as Brooks and Ganschow came home. The Purple Eagles led 5-2 after the half-inning.
Hammill drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Cote, making it 6-2 in the fourth. Quinnipiac was retired in order in their half by reliever Luke Glenn.
The Bobcats rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Caden Williamson singled, and Kyle Garbowski tripled to plate Williamson and advanced home on the throw. Irizarry hit a sacrifice fly for the third run of the frame to pull within one at 6-5 heading into the sixth.
Hayden Morrison came in for relief of Glenn and threw three straight scoreless innings as the Purple Eagles offense provided more help as Jason Green then singled to center to score McKay. On Brooks' strikeout, Ganschow stole second and Green scored on the throw putting Niagara up 8-5. In the bottom half, Irizarry answered with a solo home run down the right-field line to cut the deficit to 8-6, but Morrison worked out of further trouble.
Andrew Damiani, who entered in relief, closed out the game in the bottom half to secure the 8-6 victory.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 18-16 all-time against Quinnipiac
Kozar's on-base streak ended at 20 games
Konings' 13 game hit streak also ended
Ganschow recorded his first collegiate hit in his two hit effort
Glenn recorded his first collegiate win
Up Next
Niagara continues their three-game series against Quinnipiac Friday April 2 at 1:00 pm.
