Thunderwolves extend win streak to 12 in a row, Harper hits eighth career home run during double bill at Finger Lakes CC Sunday
*** PHOTO COURTESY OF CARSON HARPER ***
SUNY Niagara extended its win streak to 12 in a row after it snatched both games against Finger Lakes Community College Sunday in Canandaigua. The Thunderwolves won the first contest, 11-8, and the second meeting, 14-5.
Currently ranked third in the NJCAA Div. III rankings, which was released on Monday, SUNY Niagara is now 23-2 on the season and at the top of the NJCAA Region III West Standings with an unblemished 5-0 record. With the two wins Sunday, SUNY Niagara is now 30-6 against Finger Lakes Community College and an overall 376-75 record over the last 10 seasons (since 2016-17).
SUNY Niagara continues its season when it hosts Tompkins Cortland Community College in an NJCAA Region III doubleheader at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls. The Thunderwolves defeated the Panthers, 13-3 and 16-4, on March 24.
Game One: SUNY Niagara 11, Finger Lakes CC 8
After a scoreless first inning, SUNY Niagara jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The lead was brief, however, as Finger Lakes responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame and added one more in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 lead.
The Thunderwolves’ bats came to life down the stretch as they scored three runs in the fifth to tie the contest at 5-5. Mike Schaefer’s two-out single to centerfield brought home Cam Gravelle for the game-tying run.
The score was tied once again after the sixth, at 6-6, before SUNY Niagara finished the job offensively in the seventh. Derrick Allen recorded a two-run inside-the-park home run, which brought Cam Gravelle home for an 8-6 lead.
Three batters later, Evan Kohr recorded his first home run with SUNY Niagara and brought home Dalton Harper on a two-run blast for the 10-6 lead. Joe Panzarella later recorded a one-run single to send Cooper Prizel home for the SUNY Niagara 11-6 lead.
Finger Lakes tried to make a comeback and scored two runs off SUNY Niagara reliever Tyler Vogel. But Cooper Polcovich recorded the final out with a strikeout.
Allen finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in a team-high three runs. Panzarella went a perfect 4-for-4, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Kohr and Alexander Graham both recorded one hit and drove in two runs. Gravelle had two hits and crossed home plate twice.
Harper and Prizel scored two runs each. Jonah Moscato scored a run and Mike Schaefer posted a hit.
In the start, Liam Hadfield allowed five runs on five and recorded two strikeouts and walked two in two innings of work (66 pitches). Vogel recorded the win and, on 79 pitches, threw 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits, struck out four and walked three.
Game Two: SUNY Niagara 14, Finger Lakes CC 5
The Thunderwolves scored two runs to begin the contest, but the Lakers responded with five in the bottom of the first for an early 5-2 lead. SUNY Niagara then scored 12 unanswered, including five in the top half of the second inning, and took Game Two of the doubleheader.
Sophomore and Penn State commit Dalton Harper went 3-for-5 at the plate and drove in two of his three runs when he recorded a two-run home run in the top of the seventh (SUNY 14-5). This marked Harper’s team-leading fifth home run of the season and the eighth of his career along with 66 career runs batted in over 72 career games.
Evan Kohr and Cameron Gruarin finished an identical 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs each. Kohr crossed home plate twice himself, while Gruarin did so once.
Mike Schaefer went 2-for-5 at the plate and also drove in two runs and scored twice. Jonah Moscato and Joe Panzarella both recorded one hit and drove in two runs.
Cam Gravelle drove in a run and scored a run. Cooper Prizel went 2-for-3 and scored three times and Iain Farber scored once.
Derrick Allen moved to 4-0 on the mound, which placed him back in a tie for the team lead with Keegan Bazinet. In six innings of work, Allen only allowed one earned run (five runs total) on six hits and nine strikeouts plus one walk on 99 pitches.