The baseball team recorded one win and one loss this weekend against the Niagara Purple Eagles and the Wagner Seahawks this weekend.
MU registered their first MAAC loss on Friday, March 28 in the series opener. On the mound for the Hawks was senior southpaw Andy McGee who picked up his fourth loss of the season. After 2.1 innings and five earned runs, head coach Dean Ehehalt replaced McGee with sophomore lefty Frank Trimarco.
Niagara pulled ahead quickly as they scored four runs in the first inning. McGee surrendered a walk to the Purple Eagles first batter to start their rally. Niagara’s left fielder, Kevin Paulsen, then reached first on a muffed throw putting two runners on. Third baseman Greg Rodgers then sent a triple out to left center scoring both men on base. The following batter singled which scored Rodgers from third. McGee was able to strike out the next batter, but then allowed a double to right center which plated Niagara’s fourth run of the inning.
MU chipped away Niagara’s led with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first when Craig Sweeney hit a home run to score junior Steve Wilgus and brought the game to a two run margin.
Niagara furthered their lead back to four as they scored two runs in the bottom of the second thanks to an MU error and a single from Rodgers. The Hawks scored another run in the bottom of the second when junior catcher Kyle Perry was brought home off Wilgus’s sacrifice fly bringing the score to 6-3.
Unfortunately for the blue and white, Niagara continued their scoring streak in the third. Outfielder Taylor Hackett, who went 2-for-3 for the day, singled to right field on an 0-2 count. He was then brought home by shortstop Geoff Seto who singled to center.
The scoring halted during the bottom of the third and top of the fourth, but then started up again as MU showed a one run fourth inning. Senior Joe Bamford led off the inning with a double to left center which was followed by a Wilgus strike out. Senior second baseman Jake Gronsky recorded the second out after he grounded to third base. Sweeney swung for a RBI single to center playing Bamford from second. Senior first baseman Danny Avella flied out to end the inning.
The Hawks tallied their final run in the fifth after Wilgus drew a RBI walk to plate senior shortstop Jon Guida.
Due to inclement weather, the game had to be called after the sixth was concluded. The final score read 7-5 in Niagara’s favor.
The series was supposed to conclude on Sunday, March 30 with a double header but due to rain, it was pushed back to Monday, March 31. The games were once again cancelled on Monday afternoon after the field was deemed unplayable.
With three days of no baseball, the Hawks lost 4-1 to the Wagner Seahawks on Tuesday, April 1.
Junior TJ Hunt was given the start, but was pulled from the game after surrendering two runs off four hits in the first inning.
Hunt stayed in for a one, two, three second inning, but was relieved in the third by junior Chris McKenna.
MU had a chance to even the score in the third inning when Bamford came to the plate with a bases loaded situation. Working a full count, Bamford fouled out to first base to end the inning.
Wagner’s first three batters were once again put away in the fourth, however, the Seahawks furthered their lead in the fifth due to a wild pitch thrown by MU junior Adam Yunginger.
Wagner added to their score in the sixth courtesy of a RBI single from designated hitter Brendan Benecke who went 2-for-3 in the game.
MU scored the final run of the game during the eighth when Gronsky hit a single to right field and brought home senior Jon Guida.
