Golden Griffins dominate NU at Sal Maglie
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The Niagara University Purple Eagles baseball team lost their 17th game of the season in decisive fashion on April 26, falling to the Canisius College Golden Griffins 8-0. At a game which took place at Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls, N.Y., Canisius held NU to just four hits, while benefiting from a four-run seventh inning and a three-run eighth.
Both clubs were held scoreless through the first five frames, as Niagara starter Jordan Parranto started strong, striking out nine in his first 5.0 innings. Jared Kennedy starter for Canisius, pitching two scoreless innings before giving way to Nolan Hunt, held the Purple Eagles to a lone hit in 4.0 innings of relief work.
The Golden Griffins cracked the run column first in the top of the sixth, with back-to-back singles off Parranto by first baseman Liam Wilson and designated hitter Christ Conley. Wilson advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored on a ball hit by Tim Kensinger which resulted in a fielder’s choice. Austin Miller replaced Parranto to record the final out of the inning.
In Canisius’ four-run seventh inning, Mark McKenna, who went 4-5 on the night, singled in Jake Burlingame. Jake Lumley came around to score on a double by Liam Wilson, followed a few hitters later by a two-run single off the bat of Tim Kensinger.
Nigel Stearns came on to pitch for NU in the eighth, as Canisius added three more runs. Back-to-back walks and a single by Mark McKenna was followed by a Niagara pitching change, as Matt McCuen came out of the bullpen. Liam Wilson grounded out to third, scoring Nick Capitano. An error by Niagara third baseman Philippe Langlois allowed a second run to score, and McKenna crossed the plate on a sac-fly by Tim Kensinger.
The lone four hits for the Purple Eagles came from Tanner Kirwer, who pinch-hit for Nick Bernick in the bottom of the eighth, Trevor McCauley, Phillippe Langlois and Wyatt Olson. For Canisius, Liam Wilson went 2-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Mark McKenna, Cyrus Senior and Tim Kensinger all stole a base for Canisius. Nolan Hunt earned his first win of the season, improving to 1-2 in 2017, while Jordan Parranto drops to 0-2.
Niagara, who falls to 18-17, will welcome in Fairfield University for three games on April 28-29. The teams will face off on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. from Bobo Field, and then play a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch of game one on Sunday is scheduled for noon.
Photo courtesy of PurpleEagles.com
Niagara Wire 