NIAGARA UNIV. — The Purple Eagles baseball team will compete in the University of Virginia Tournament from Friday – Sunday. Niagara will play two games against No. 12 Virginia and two games against La Salle.

Game Info

  • Game 1 (La Salle) – Friday, March 3 – 12:00 p.m.
  • Game 2 (Virginia) – Friday, March 3 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Game 3 (Virginia) – Saturday, March 4 – 3:00 p.m.
  • Game 4 (La Salle) – Sunday, March 5 – 11:00 a.m.

The Purple Eagles played a three-game series at Norfolk State Feb. 25-26. Niagara swept the Spartans, shutting them out, 9-0 and 4-0, in games one and two and defeating them 6-1 in game three. Tanner Kirwer led the Purple Eagles over the series with five runs. Greg Cullen led the team in RBIs with six. Daniel Procopio (1-1) had an impressive outing on the mound in game two. He struck out nine batters, walked none and allowed only one hit in 6.0 innings pitched.

Kirwer has a team-high seven runs and four doubles. He and Peter Battaglia lead the team in hits with eight each. Cullen has a team-high seven RBIs. Kirwer and Julian Gallup are both a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen bases and Gallup is second on the team in runs with five. Procopio has a team-high 10.0 innings pitched. He has 10 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.70. Matthew Brash (1-0) who made his first start on the mound and picked up his first collegiate win at Norfolk State, has struck out eight batters in 7.0 innings pitched and has an ERA of 2.57.

At the plate, the Cavaliers are led by catcher/first baseman Robbie Coman, who has 14 hits and is batting .467. Coman also has seven runs, three homeruns and nine RBIs. First baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith has a team-high 15 RBIs and outfielder Jake McCarthy has a team-high 13 runs and seven stolen bases. Adam Haseley, an outfielder/pitcher, has a team-high four homeruns. On the mound, Haseley (1-0) has a team-best 12 strikeouts. Evan Sperling (2-0) has the most innings pitched with 12.0.

Outfielder Connor Hinchliffe leads the Explorers in scoring with four runs. Yan Carlo Rivera, an infielder, and first baseman Ben Faso have a team-high seven hits and three RBIs each. Luke Reilly (0-0) has the most innings pitched for La Salle (10.2), as well as the most strikeouts (10).

The Purple Eagles will play a single game at Virginia Tech on Tuesday at 2 p.m., followed by a three-game series at Marshall March 10-12.

from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT