Lewiston, N.Y. (May 18^th, 2023) – The Mount's third and fourth inning surges weren't enough to take away a win from Niagara, losing in the bottom of the ninth 9-8 in what was a hard-fought game by the Mountaineers. Mount St. Mary's will need to win both games left in this series to earn a chance at playoff contention.
 
Today's game started as expected being that this is the first time on Bobo Field for the Mountaineers and that was with a 4-0 Purple Eagles lead. Mount St. Mary's responded to the ugly start with consecutive three run innings in the third and fourth innings while holding Niagara scoreless.
 
The third inning started with two consecutive walks in Efrain Correa, Jr. and David Stirpe, setting the Mountaineers up with runners on first and second, no outs. Tristan McAlister laid down a sacrifice bunt to the first basemen allowing Correa Jr, and Stirpe to advance to second and third. This brought Shane Wockley to plate, who called his own number by knocking a three-run homer to right-center field, his 17^th of the season, which brought the score within one, 3-4.
 
The fourth started exactly like the third with two walks to open the inning in Scott Seeker and Brady Drawbaugh. A batter later Stirpe made his way back to the plate and placed a sac bunt to third base allowing Seeker to score on a booted ball by the third basemen. With runners on first and second, McAlister hit a base knock to left field scoring Drawbaugh and pushing Stirpe to third. Now, runners on the corner bags with a scorching bat next to the plate in Wockley. Wockley kept the Mount scoring with an RBI double to left field scoring Stripe, 6-4.
 
Niagara took the reins back in the fifth with a three-score inning of their own. Vincent Mauro the scoring off for the Purple Eagles with an infield single allowing Nick Groves to score. Max Giordano capped off their inning with a two-run home run to left field to take the lead back, 7-6.
 
Two runs in the sixth gave the Mountaineers the lead, 8-7. McAlister put himself in prime scoring position after successfully stealing third base. The next pitch, Tyler Long sac bunted to the pitcher but not before being able to score McAlister to knot the game at sevens. Jayson Kramer striped a double to left center which allowed Wockley to cross the plate for his second time today.
 
Two scoreless innings brought us to the top of the ninth with the game all knotted up 8-8. The Mount unable to make a move in the top of the frame put the games in the hands of their defense. A Giordano single up the middle allowed Nate Milk to cross the plate and end the game in the bottom of the ninth, 9-8.
 
Shane Wockly finished 3-3 with a two-run home run and four RBIs today while Tristan McAlister finished 2-2 with an RBI and two drawn walks. Luke Pryor pitched 1 2/3 innings from the sixth and middle of the seventh and allowed no hits and zero runs.
 
Game two begins tomorrow at 3 p.m.