Niagara Baseball Makes History

It’s been a postseason of firsts for the Niagara Purple Eagles baseball team.

Niagara won its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Championship after defeating the Fairfield Stags 10-6 to advance to their first NCAA tournament.

https://twitter.com/NUPurpleEagles/status/1794489692924125576

Prior to NCAA Tournament Appearance

This has been the defining year of the young program. Niagara enters the NCAA Tournament at 38-15, by far its best mark in program history.

Their first game in the MAAC Championship was a back-and-forth affair against Rider University.

Despite facing an early 3-0 deficit, the Purple Eagles maintained their composure and responded by scoring four runs in the second inning to take a 4-3 lead. After trading the lead through the next several innings, freshman Rees Kozar hit a solo homer to regain a lead (9-7) they wouldn’t forfeit.

They continued their historic run with an 8-6 victory over Mount St. Mary’s.

In the championship game against the top seed Fairfield, both starting pitchers set the tone early. They effectively halted any offense through the first three innings by allowing just a combined three hits.

Niagara eventually took its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth, when sophomore Gavin Schrader delivered a two-run homer to set the score at 3-1.

Things seemed grim in the bottom of the seventh inning when Fairfield answered with five runs to take a 6-3 lead.

However, the Purple Eagles immediately responded with a seven-run effort in the top of the eighth.

Graduate student Zach Cameron sealed the win by setting down five straight batters to put Fairfield away, sending Niagara to the NCAA Tournament.

It’s certainly been a season to remember.

Looking Ahead

The Purple Eagles were selected Monday by the NCAA committee as the fourth seed to the Stillwater (Okla.) Regional, which features 11th national seed Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Florida. They will face OSU  (40-17) at 7 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN+).  The Gators and Cornhuskers play earlier in the day.

Relive the historic week in Pomona as the Purple Eagles captured their first MAAC Championship#EAGLES pic.twitter.com/m3Kgw9i076

— Niagara Baseball (@NiagaraBASE) May 28, 2024