NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A strong offensive showing propelled the Purple Eagles baseball team past Rider, 8-2, in the opening game of the teams’ three-game series on Saturday.
Game Summary
Final Score: Niagara 8, Rider 2
Game Leaders: Peter Battaglia (4H, 3 RBIs), Trevor McCauley (3H, 2 RBIs)
Records: Niagara (20-24, 9-10 MAAC), Rider (11-31, 6-12 MAAC)
Location: Bobo Field – Niagara University, N.Y.
Game Recap
- The Broncs opened scoring with a solo homerun in the top of the second stanza to take a 1-0 lead over the Purple Eagles. Niagara answered in the bottom of the inning. With two runners on, Benny Serrano reached base on a throwing error and advanced to second, sending Owen Dziados in to score, tying the score, 1-1.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Battaglia smacked his team-leading seventh homerun of the season out of the park and an RBI single from Joseph Tevlin put NU in the lead, 3-1.
- An RBI single from McCauley in the bottom of the fifth frame extended the Purple Eagles’ lead, 4-1.
- A solo homerun from the Broncs in the top of the seventh halved Niagara’s lead, 4-2.
- Serrano kicked off the bottom of the eighth inning with his first career homerun. With bases loaded, Battaglia singled to left field, plating Michael Gabriele and Julian Gallup. Another RBI single from McCauley gave the Purple Eagles the 8-2 lead heading into the final inning.
- Niagara held off the Broncs in the top of the ninth and came away with the series-opening victory.
Inside the Numbers
- The Purple Eagles outhit the Broncs, 16-4.
- Battaglia led the Purple Eagles at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4. He also had a team-high three RBIs.
- McCauley added three hits and two RBIs for NU.
- Dziados, Gallup and Tevlin all had two hits on the day.
- Cody Eckerson (3-5) picked up the win on the mound. He fanned eight and scattered only three hits in 7.0 innings of work.
- Tyler Howard closed it out for the Purple Eagles, striking out three and allowing only one hit in 2.0 innings pitched.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles close out their series with the Broncs on Sunday, May 13 with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. Niagara’s graduating seniors will be honored prior to the start of game one.
