Friday, February 17
Davidson, N.C.
6:00 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
4
vs
9
Niagara
Sophomore Forrest Brandt
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Niagara Spoils Davidson Baseball Season Opener, 9-4
2/17/2012 10:30:00 PM | Baseball
Box Score
Buy baseball photos at DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – A four-run fifth inning capped by a two-run home run by Rob McCauley gave Niagara a lead over Davidson that it would not relinquish, as the Purple Eagles won, 9-4, in the season-opening baseball contest for both teams Friday night at Wilson Field.
Sophomore left fielder Forrest Brandt led Davidson (0-1) at the plate with a 3-for-5 night with a run and an RBI. Senior center fielder Drew Gadaire went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
McCauley reached base four times for Niagara (1-0) and scored each time. The first baseman cleanup hitter went 3-for-4 with a walk, four runs and three RBIs on his two home runs – the two-run shot in the fourth inning and a solo home run in the ninth. Designated hitter Joel Klock went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run, and right fielder Adam Wager had two RBI.
RHP Drew Fittery (1-0) went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks, and striking out five. Senior RHP Ryan Overcash (0-1) surrendered six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk and also tallied five strikeouts in six innings of work.
Both teams made four errors, but the Wildcats were unable to capitalize on them and ultimately stranded 13 runners. Three of Niagara's runs were unearned, and they totaled nine hits to Davidson's eight.
Catcher Evan Wexler led the top of the fifth inning off with a single and left fielder Kevin Paulsen scored him from second following a sacrifice bunt with a sharply hit bouncer that deflected off of third baseman Andrew Barna. A double down the left field line by Wagner moved Paulsen to third base, and centerfielder Wynton Bernard drove him home with a sacrifice fly. McCauley followed with a two-run home run to give the Purple Eagles a 6-2 lead before Overcash struck out third baseman Eric ink to end the inning.
Niagara was able to fend off Davidson's attempts to rally. Gadaire and Brandt reached base with one out in the fifth, but Fittery was able to retire the next two batters. First baseman Matt Ray reached third base in the sixth with two outs, but Fittery was able to get the inning-ending strikeout.
Niagara added a run in the seventh and Davidson had its best chance to get back in the game in the bottom half of the inning. With Connor Sullivan on for Fittery, Davidson loaded the bases with no outs as Gadaire was hit by a pitch and Brandt and Barna both singled. Freshman DH Ryan Lowe hit an RBI-single to plate Gadaire and Zeblo hit a sacrifice fly to score Brandt from third, but Sullivan induced a pop out and a groundout to first base to halt the rally.
The Purple Eagles added an unearned run in the eighth and a solo home run by McCauley for the final 9-4 margin. Jordan Schwartz held the Wildcats scoreless over the final two innings. Davidson freshman LHP Rob Bain pitched two innings of relief and did not allow an earned run in his first career appearance.
A leadoff double by McCauley in the second inning, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI-single by Klock gave Niagara an early 1-0 lead. Davidson answered in the bottom of the third inning though as a two-out triple by Gadaire scored senior James Cerbie from first base. Brandt was next at-bat and rocketed a sharp bouncer through the middle to score Gadaire and give Davidson a 2-1 lead.
Niagara tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning when McCauley scored from second base on a potential inning ending double play-ball. Klock hit the ball to Ray at first base, and Ray went to second for the force play, but Overcash was unable to secure the throw from Cerbie at short as he covered first base.
Davidson returns to action Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against La Salle and Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. against Bucknell.
Buy baseball photos at DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – A four-run fifth inning capped by a two-run home run by Rob McCauley gave Niagara a lead over Davidson that it would not relinquish, as the Purple Eagles won, 9-4, in the season-opening baseball contest for both teams Friday night at Wilson Field.
Sophomore left fielder Forrest Brandt led Davidson (0-1) at the plate with a 3-for-5 night with a run and an RBI. Senior center fielder Drew Gadaire went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
McCauley reached base four times for Niagara (1-0) and scored each time. The first baseman cleanup hitter went 3-for-4 with a walk, four runs and three RBIs on his two home runs – the two-run shot in the fourth inning and a solo home run in the ninth. Designated hitter Joel Klock went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run, and right fielder Adam Wager had two RBI.
RHP Drew Fittery (1-0) went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks, and striking out five. Senior RHP Ryan Overcash (0-1) surrendered six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk and also tallied five strikeouts in six innings of work.
Both teams made four errors, but the Wildcats were unable to capitalize on them and ultimately stranded 13 runners. Three of Niagara's runs were unearned, and they totaled nine hits to Davidson's eight.
Catcher Evan Wexler led the top of the fifth inning off with a single and left fielder Kevin Paulsen scored him from second following a sacrifice bunt with a sharply hit bouncer that deflected off of third baseman Andrew Barna. A double down the left field line by Wagner moved Paulsen to third base, and centerfielder Wynton Bernard drove him home with a sacrifice fly. McCauley followed with a two-run home run to give the Purple Eagles a 6-2 lead before Overcash struck out third baseman Eric ink to end the inning.
Niagara was able to fend off Davidson's attempts to rally. Gadaire and Brandt reached base with one out in the fifth, but Fittery was able to retire the next two batters. First baseman Matt Ray reached third base in the sixth with two outs, but Fittery was able to get the inning-ending strikeout.
Niagara added a run in the seventh and Davidson had its best chance to get back in the game in the bottom half of the inning. With Connor Sullivan on for Fittery, Davidson loaded the bases with no outs as Gadaire was hit by a pitch and Brandt and Barna both singled. Freshman DH Ryan Lowe hit an RBI-single to plate Gadaire and Zeblo hit a sacrifice fly to score Brandt from third, but Sullivan induced a pop out and a groundout to first base to halt the rally.
The Purple Eagles added an unearned run in the eighth and a solo home run by McCauley for the final 9-4 margin. Jordan Schwartz held the Wildcats scoreless over the final two innings. Davidson freshman LHP Rob Bain pitched two innings of relief and did not allow an earned run in his first career appearance.
A leadoff double by McCauley in the second inning, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI-single by Klock gave Niagara an early 1-0 lead. Davidson answered in the bottom of the third inning though as a two-out triple by Gadaire scored senior James Cerbie from first base. Brandt was next at-bat and rocketed a sharp bouncer through the middle to score Gadaire and give Davidson a 2-1 lead.
Niagara tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning when McCauley scored from second base on a potential inning ending double play-ball. Klock hit the ball to Ray at first base, and Ray went to second for the force play, but Overcash was unable to secure the throw from Cerbie at short as he covered first base.
Davidson returns to action Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against La Salle and Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. against Bucknell.
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