STAFF REPORTS
news@allwnynews.com
NIAGARA UNIV. — The Niagara baseball team opens conference play with a three-game series at Manhattan March this weekend, playing a doubleheader on Saturday and a third game on Sunday.
Niagara swept a doubleheader with Bowling Green on Sunday. The Purple Eagles won game one, 3-1, and game two, 3-2. Greg Cullen, Peter Battaglia, and Nick Bernick led the team with one RBI each and Tanner Kirwer and Trevor McCauley had a team-high two hits each in game one. Matthew Brash (3-0) earned the game one win, striking out two batters and allowing only two hits in 5.0 innings pitched. Battaglia, Kirwer and Joel Brophy had one RBI each in game two and Joseph Tevlin had a team-best two hits. On the mound, Nate Mascellino (1-1) earned the win. He had two strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. Matt McCuen, who took the mound late in each game, earned two saves on the day.
Battaglia and Greg Cullen lead the team in RBI with 14 each. Battaglia and Cullen each also have a team-high 20 hits. Battaglia leads the Purple Eagles at the plate with a .328 average. Kirwer has a team-high 15 runs scored, 11 doubles and 10 stolen bases. On the mound, Brash (3-0) leads the Niagara pitching staff with 24.0 innings pitched. He has struck out 20 batters and has an ERA of 2.25. Daniel Procopio (2-1) has a team-best 24 strikeouts in 21.0 innings pitched. He is holding opponents to a team-low .162 average. McCuen leads the team in saves with three on the season so far.
Outfielder Evan Brown leads the Jaspers with eight RBI and is also batting a team-best .391. Catcher Fabian Pena leads the team with 20 hits and seven doubles. Jason Patnick, an outfielder, and infielder Michael Pfenninger both have a team-best eight runs scored. Joey Rocchietti (1-2) leads Manhattan with 23.1 innings pitched. He has an ERA of 3.86. Tom Cosgrove (0-2) and Marc Galvan (1-1) have each pitched a complete game for the Jaspers this season.
The Purple Eagles open their home schedule April 1-2 when they host Saint Peter’s for a three game series.
