Niagara University’s baseball team saw their regular‑season finale slip away on a warm evening in Wappingers Falls, New York, as Mount St. Mary’s erupted for nine runs in the second inning, turning a 1‑0 lead into a 12‑5 defeat.
A late rally falls short
Elijha Hammill opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning, but the Purple Eagles could not sustain the early advantage. Christian Bauman and Alex Mendes added their own blasts in the second, while Sam Meyer’s third‑inning homer extended the visitors’ cushion. Nick Cote’s two‑run shot in the third pulled Niagara within five, yet Phoenix Williams’ RBI double in the fourth sealed the final margin.
Despite the loss, the Eagles closed the season at 26‑19‑1 overall and 20‑10 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, a record that earns them a berth in the upcoming MAAC tournament beginning May 20 at Heritage Financial Park. Relief pitcher Nate Bennett tossed five solid innings, and shutout work from Eddie Dolansky and Rece Allensworth kept the game respectable late on.
The team will now travel to face the conference’s top seeds, hoping to extend their season beyond the regular slate. With a 9‑4 all‑time edge over Mount St. Mary’s and a 14‑game on‑base streak for Hammill, the Purple Eagles carry a mix of veteran arms and fresh power into the postseason.