NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles baseball team defeated Iona, 9-6, on Sunday to win the season series with the Gaels.
Game Summary
Final Score: Niagara 9, Iona 6
Game Leaders: Peter Battaglia (3H, 3 RBIs), Greg Cullen (2H, 2 RBIs, 2R)
Records: Niagara (9-14, 4-2 MAAC), Iona (8-18, 3-5 MAAC)
Location: Bobo Field – Niagara University, N.Y.
Game Recap
- Niagara came out hot on offense in the bottom of the first. An RBI single from Cullen got NU on the board. Battaglia then hit a two-run homer, the first Purple Eagles homerun at the newly renovated Bobo Field, to put Niagara up 3-0. Philippe Langlois singled up the middle to score Wyatt Olson and extend the Purple Eagles’ lead to 4-0 at the end of the first inning.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Owen Dziados hit a solo homerun to put NU up 5-0 on the Gaels.
- In the top of the sixth, the Gaels got on the board with a solo homer, but NU still led, 5-1.
- Cullen singled to right field, scoring Michael Gabriele and Battaglia doubled to send Cullen home and give NU a 7-1 lead at the end of the sixth inning.
- Iona scored twice in the top of the seventh, but the Purple Eagles answered in the bottom of the inning with scores from Julian Gallup and Darian Blanks to put Niagara up 9-3.
- The Gaels scored once in the top of the eighth and twice in the top of the ninth but it was not enough to overcome the Purple Eagles’ lead and Niagara came away with the 9-6 lead to win the season series with the Gaels.
Inside the Numbers
- Battaglia and Gabriele led NU with three hits each. Cullen and Dziados each had two hits.
- Battaglia had a team-high three RBIs, while Cullen recorded two RBIs.
- Cullen and Gabriele led the team in runs scored with two each.
- Zachary Kolodziejski (1-1) earned the win, pitching a season-high 6.1 innings. He fanned two batters.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles host the St. Bonaventure Bonnies for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10.