Thunderwolves defeat Erie CC in opening day of Region III Final Four

*** PHOTO CREDIT: GEOFF SCHNEIDER (GMSPHOTOWNY) ***

Behind a nine-run first inning, No. 1 SUNY Niagara defeated fourth-seeded Erie Community College, 14-6 in seven innings, at the NJCAA Region III Final Four Thursday in Auburn. This marked the first of three days in the double-elimination tournament for the Thunderwolves, which are looking for their 10th regional crown in the Matt Clingersmith era (since 2007). 

Ranked second in the final regular-season NJCAA Div. III national ranking Monday, SUNY Niagara improved to 49-5 overall and will face the winner of No. 2 Hudson Valley Community College or No. 3 Herkimer College at Noon Friday. The Thunderwolves are also 38-9 in the NJCAA Region III tournament since 2017. 

SUNY Niagara scored nine runs on seven hits and three Erie errors in the first, taking a 9-0 lead. Mike Schaefer had a one-run single, Cam Gruarin had a one-run double and Evan Kohr had a sacrifice fly for the early 3-0 start. 

Alexander Graham then had a one-run single and scored on a Kats error during Luke Gigliotti’s at-bat (5-0 SUNY). Cam Gravelle had a one-run single (6-0 SUNY) and three more runs were scored on an Erie infield error during Dalton Harper’s at-bat (9-0 SUNY). 

The Kats scored two runs in the top of the second (9-2 SUNY), before Harper recorded a three-run double and put the Thunderwolves up by 10 runs (12-2 SUNY). Schaefer then posted a one-run double in the next at-bat (13-2 SUNY). 

Erie scored two runs in the top of the third and fifth innings, cutting the deficit to 13-6. This remained the score until the seventh Graham brought home Kohr on a one-run double to enforce the eight-run lead after seven innings rule. 

Graham (2 RBI, two runs) and Harper (3 RBI, two runs) both had three-hit performances. Schaefer recorded two hits, drove in two runs and scored once. 

Gravelle, Gruarin and Kohr all posted a hit, drove in one run and scored a run. Cooper Rossano (three runs) and Cooper Prizel (one run) both had a hit and Luke Gigliotti scored twice. 

SUNY Niagara is now 37-0 this season when it scores at least 10 runs in a contest and 402-78 (.838) overall since 2017. The Thunderwolves are also 23-2 since April 8, including Thursday’s victory.