NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. — Rees Kozar's ninth inning walk-off single led Niagara baseball to a 7-6 victory over Mount St. Mary's Thursday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Bobo Field.
Niagara scored in five of nine innings, withstood a late Mount St. Mary's comeback and walked off with a 7-6 victory Thursday before 186 fans at Niagara University. Rees Kozar's ninth-inning RBI single proved to be the difference in a back-and-forth contest that saw six lead changes and the Mountaineers briefly take the lead in the seventh.
The Purple Eagles improved to 26-18-1, 20-9 MAAC, while the Mountaineers fell to 21-26, 12-17 MAAC.
Jacob Brooks set the tone immediately, singling to left field and moving to second on a wild pitch. Kozar delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Brooks and give Niagara an early 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, Niagara added to their lead with a three run third. Kozar reached first on a fielding error with two outs that allowed Curtis McKay and Brooks to score. Kozar then stole second and third, before coming home on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.
The Purple Eagles grew their lead more in the fourth as Nick Cote scored on a Matthew Ganschow fielder's choice to push the lead to five.
Mount St. Mary's finally got on the board in the fifth. Ryan McKay scored on an error on a fielder's choice play to give the Mountaineers their first run of the contest.
Niagara starter Reuben Malamed's day came to an end after the fifth allowing one run on five hits. Hayden Morrison came in relief for the sixth.
The Mount trimmed the deficit by another run in the sixth as Sam Meyer then delivered an RBI single to left-center to score Biller.
Jack Dickinson came on for the Purple Eagles in the seventh. The Mountaineers drew within one in the top of the frame. Bauman singled to left to plate Agar, followed by Fredo scoring on a double play to make it a 5-4 game.
Niagara extended their lead in the eighth with an RBI single off the bat of Matthew Ganschow that brought home Nate Milk.
Mount St. Mary's tied things up in the top of the ninth with a two-run homer from Mendes. The Purple Eagles answered quickly in the bottom of the frame with a walk-off RBI single from Kozar that scored Brooks to give the Purple Eagles a 7-6 victory.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 9-3 all-time against Mount St. Mary's
Brooks tallied three base knocks for the seventh time this season
Six Purple Eagles recorded multiple hits
Andrew Damiani earned his fifth win of the season
Up Next
Niagara wraps up the regular season against Mount St. Mary's Friday May 15 for senior day at 1:00 at Bobo Field.
