NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Despite a strong offensive effort, the Purple Eagles baseball team fell to crosstown rival Canisius, 17-10, Wednesday night.
Game Summary
Final Score: Canisius 17, Niagara 10
Game Leaders: Peter Battaglia (3H, 3R, 5 RBIs), Trevor McCauley (1H, 1R, 2 RBIs)
Records: Canisius (22-15), Niagara (12-22)
Location: Demske Sports Complex – Buffalo, N.Y.
Game Recap
- The Purple Eagles took the early lead over the Griffs in the top of the first inning. Battaglia doubled to left field to score Michael Gabriele and an RBI single from Owen Dziados gave NU the 2-0 advantage.
- A score from Canisius in the bottom of the first halved NU’s lead, 2-1, and in the bottom of the fourth, the Griffs scored five times to take their first lead of the game, 5-2.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Battaglia knocked a three-run homer out of the park, his team-leading sixth homerun of the season. The Purple Eagles trailed the Griffs by only one run, 6-5.
- Niagara reclaimed its lead in the top of the sixth. Greg Cullen singled, plating Joseph Tevlin. Battaglia then singled through the left side, scoring Gabriele. McCauley hit his second triple of the season, sending two runs home. A sacrifice fly from Dziados closed out the top of the inning and put the Purple Eagles back on top of the Griffs, 10-6.
- Canisius, however, dominated the rest of the game and came away with the 17-10 win in the teams’ first Battle of the Bridge meeting this season.
Inside the Numbers
- Battaglia led the Purple Eagles with a career-high five RBIs. He also had a team-high three runs scored.
- Battaglia and Gabriele led Niagara in hits with three each.
- Dziados and McCauley each recorded two RBIs and Tevlin had two hits.
- Cullen and Gabriele each scored two runs.
- Five Niagara pitchers saw action on the mound against the Griffs. Alex MacKinnon (0-4) took the loss. He fanned two and allowed two earned runs in 1.0 innings pitched.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles resume MAAC play this weekend, playing a three-game series at Saint Peter’s April 28-29.
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