Lewiston, N.Y. (May 19th, 2023) – Mount St. Mary's lost today 6-5 in a final inning battle against Niagara. This loss puts the Mountaineers out of playoff contention yet, no one can discredit the heart this team left on the field. A true depiction of team was on full display this year thanks to a passionate and relentless coaching staff who were given the opportunity to coach such hard-working athletes. The playoff ride may be over, but the journey has just begun for this group of young men.
Cam King pitched well in his 3 2/3 innings allowing only five hits, three of those hits in the fourth inning, and two runs while fanning four batters. The Mountaineers tied the game in the fourth through a
David Stirpe sacrifice fly which allowed
Aiden Tierney to score. With the game knotted at one going into the bottom of the frame, the Purple Eagles regained the lead through a Cole O' Connor single to left field which scored Brady Desjardins, 2-1.
Niagara rattled the score board for two runs in the bottom of the fifth in hopes to break away from the Mount, 1-4. Two walks put the Purple Eagles in scoring position with one out to start the inning. A few batters later Nick Groves roped a double to the gap in right center scoring Wyatt Palmer to end the scoring in the inning.
The Mountaineers held the Purple Eagles scoreless the next three innings while rattling the scoreboard for four runs to take their first lead of the game, 5-4. A run was batted in in the seventh via a
Tyler Long single through the left side which allowed Stirpe to cross the plate.
Aiden Tierney started things off in the eighth by drawing a walk, followed by a
Jayson Kramer single and a
Brady Drawbaugh hit by pitch to load the bases with no outs. The team cashed in on a drawn walk by
JT Landwehr and a Stirpe fielder's choice to knot the game at four. The Mount took their lead via
Tristan McAlister's single to right field allowing Landwehr to cross the plate.
The ninth inning rolls around and a three up-three down inning for the Mount put the game in the hands of their defense. With Landwehr on the mound and one out already taken by the Mountaineers there was a real chance at a win here. The next batter Matt Ward hit a home run to left field to deafen those thoughts and knot the game up at 5. A few walks later the bases were loaded with one out and any shot to the outfield would pretty much call the game. Well, a shot to the outfield is what Niagara got as Groves sac flied to left field which scored Milk to end the game.
Game three will be played tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Bobo Field.
