NIAGARA UNIV. — The Purple Eagles baseball team heads to Waco, Texas for a three-game series with Baylor this weekend with games at 7:35 p.m. Friday, 3:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
Niagara finished the 2016 season 16-37-1 overall and 11-13 in MAAC play. The Purple Eagles return 19 from last year’s squad, including five seniors, and welcome 10 newcomers, which includes seven freshmen and three transfer students. Rob McCoy enters his ninth season as head coach of the purple and white.
Junior outfielder Tanner Kirwer, who was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team, hit .327 in 2016. He led the team in RBIs with 29 and in stolen bases with 19 stolen on 25 attempts. Kirwer totaled 50 hits on the season, 16 of which were for extra bases, and was named to the All-MAAC Second Team at the conclusion of the season. Greg Cullen, a sophomore infielder, led Niagara with 37 runs. Cullen had 65 hits, 14 doubles and 21 RBIs and finished the season batting .305. On the mound, redshirt-junior Cody Eckerson posted a 3.64 ERA. He made 11 starts and 12 total appearances in 2016, striking out 62 batters in 64.1 innings pitched. Relief pitcher Matt McCuen, a redshirt senior, posted a sub-three ERA (2.98) in 25 appearances out of the pen. He struck out 35 batters in 42.1 innings pitched and had a team-high three saves.
This is the first all-time meeting between the Purple Eagles and the Baylor Bears.
Following Baylor, Niagara will play a three-game series at Norfolk State Feb. 25-26. The team will then take part in the University of Virginia Tournament where it will face LaSalle (March 3 and 5) and Virginia (March 3 and 4).
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