NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. — Niagara baseball finished the regular season with a 12-5 loss to Mount St. Mary’s on Friday at Bobo Field. The Purple Eagles ended their season with a record of 26 wins, 19 losses, and 1 tie, while the Mountaineers finished at 22 wins and 26 losses.
Niagara jumped ahead early when Elijha Hammill hit a solo home run, making it 1-0 in the first inning. But things changed quickly in the second. The Mountaineers exploded for nine runs. Key hits from David Stokely, Ryan McKay, and Sam Meyer contributed to this big inning. When Niagara brought in relief pitcher Nathan Harb, Ty Fredo hit a bases-clearing triple. Shortly after, Christian Bauman and Alex Mendes hit back-to-back home runs, putting the score at 9-1.
Despite falling behind, the Purple Eagles battled back. In the third inning, Brooks and Hammill paired up for a single and a two-run homer, reducing the deficit to 10-3. Later, Nick Cote hit a two-run homer of his own, making it 10-5. However, the Mountaineers tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning with an RBI double from Phoenix Williams.
Nate Bennett came on in relief for Niagara, pitching five innings and allowing three runs while striking out five batters. Both Eddie Dolansky and Rece Allensworth contributed to shutout innings in the eighth and ninth.
Here are a few highlights from the game:
- Niagara now holds a 9-4 record against Mount St. Mary’s historically.
- Hammill extended his on-base streak to 14 games.
- Brooks recorded three hits, marking his eighth game with that many this season.
- Cote celebrated his first collegiate home run.
Looking ahead, Niagara prepares for the MAAC tournament starting May 20 at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls, NY. This tournament will offer a chance for the Purple Eagles to showcase their skills and make a mark in postseason play.
It’s worth mentioning that the trend of offensive performances in college baseball has been on the rise. According to a recent NCAA report, the average runs scored per game have increased by 15% over the past five seasons, making the sport even more thrilling to watch. Fans will certainly be eager to see how Niagara plays in the tournament!
