CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Purple Eagles completed the first day of the University of Virginia Tournament on Friday, defeating the La Salle Explorers, 8-5, and falling to the No. 12 Virginia Cavaliers, 5-3.
Game 1: Niagara 8, La Salle 5
Niagara (4-4) took an early lead with a score from Philippe Langlois in the top of the second inning. In the top of the sixth, Joel Brophy scored on a balk and Joseph Tevlin scored on a wild pitch. Tanner Kirwer then singled to left field to score Julian Gallup and put the Purple Eagles up 4-0. Niagara extended its lead, 6-1, over the Explorers (0-8) in the top of the seventh with scores from Peter Battaglia and Wyatt Olson. Olson and Battaglia each scored again in the top of the ninth and, though La Salle scored twice in the bottom of the ninth, the Purple Eagles earned the 8-5 victory to keep the Explorers winless. Battaglia and Olson led Niagara with two runs each. Kirwer had a team-high two hits and two stolen bases and Brophy led the team in RBIs with two. Daniel Procopio (2-1) struck out 12 batters and allowed only one hit and one run in 6.0 innings pitched.
Game 2: Virginia 5, Niagara 3
The Purple Eagles got ahead of the No. 12 Virginia Cavaliers (9-0) early. In the top of the first, Olson doubled to center field, sending home Greg Cullen. Owen Dziados then singled down the right field line to score Olson and give Niagara the 2-0 lead. Virginia, however, came back to tie things up, 2-2, in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, Cullen singled through the right side to score Kirwer and put the Purple Eagles back in the lead, 3-2, but Virginia held Niagara scoreless through the rest of the game and earned the win to remain undefeated. Kirwer, Olson and Cullen had one run each and Cullen, Olson and Dziados each earned one RBI. Cullen had a team-high two hits and Kirwer had a team-best two stolen bases. Cody Eckerson started on the mound for Niagara, pitching 4.0 innings, but Nate Mascellino (0-1), who also pitched 4.0 innings, took the loss for the Purple Eagles.
The Purple Eagles continue play in the University of Virginia Tournament, facing No. 12 Virginia again on Saturday, March 4 at 3:00 p.m. and La Salle on Sunday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT