Norfolk, Va.—The Niagara baseball team earned it’s first series win of the season on Sunday as they won 14-4 on the road against Norfolk State.
Game Recap
- The Purple Eagle offense came alive in the top of the third inning as Cole O’Connor singled with two outs to start a rally. Cole Tucker was hit on the very next pitch and the Purple Eagles had a pair of runners on with the middle of their lineup coming up. Josh Marchese then drew a seven pitch walk. Matt Ward then singled and drove in two runs on the play, Ward advanced to second on a throwing error. Max Giordano then doubled the Purple Eagle lead as he doubled to right center to drive in Ward and Marchese.
- Norfolk State responded in the bottom of the third as they scored three runs to make it a 4-3 game after three innings.
- In the bottom of the fourth the Spartans tied the game at four.
- The Purple Eagles responded in the top of the fifth as O’Connor and Tucker both walked to start the inning. Marchese then flied out to center that allowed O’Connor to advance to third. O’Connor then came home on a wild pitch. Ward then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Giordano then ripped a double to right center on a 3-2 pitch that brought Ward and Tucker home to make it a 7-4 Niagara lead. Giordano advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch one batter later.
- In the top of the 7th, Ward opened the inning with the teams first homer of the season on a 1-0 pitch. Giordano walked after an eight pitch at bat. He then swiped second and moved over to third on an error. Jake Hutchins reached on a walk to put runners on the corners. Brady Desjardins reached on an error that brought Giordano home for the 10th Niagara run.
- Giordano opened the top of the ninth with a solo homer to right field to make it 11-4. Wyatt Palmer then pinch hit and legged out an infield single. Two batters later with Palmer on second Desjardins singled down the right field line to drive in Palmer. With two outs and the bases loaded Gavin Schrader notched his first collegiate hit as he singled up the middle to drive in two runs to make it 14-4.
- Blake MacMillan started on the mound for the Purple Eagles. He went five full innings while striking out eight hitters.
- Tommy Bednarski came out of the pen and went two innings while allowing one hit and striking out five.
- Preston Prince made his collegiate debut and allowing one and hit and one walk while striking out three.
- Zac Laird and Cal Theal combined for the ninth inning as they struckout the side in order, Theal struckout the last two hitters.
Niagara Notes
- With the two wins Niagara won the opening series of the season. It is the first time since the 2008 season in which the Purple Eagles have won their opening series of the season. In 2008, they 2-1 against Davidson.
- Giordano went 3-3 at the plater while scoring three runs and driving in five runs. It is the first time since the 2019 season he has driven in five or more runs in a game. Against Rider on Mar. 24, 2019 he drove in seven runs.
- O’Connor also went 3-5 at the plate, last season he had 17 multi hit games.
- Seven Purple Eagles had hits while four players had RBIs.
- The Purple Eagle pitching staff struckout 19 Spartans and finished the weekend with 44 strikeouts in the three games.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles return to Virginia next weekend as they face George Mason in a four game series.
