Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Saint Peter's falls 11-0 to Niagara in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) baseball action on Sunday.
Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) paced the Peacocks (4-18, 0-6 MAAC) with two hits in the loss.
Tanner Kirwer powered the Purple Eagles (9-18-1, 5-1 MAAC) with a 5-for-6 performance with three RBIs and two runs scored. Christian Vangeison added three hits, three runs scored and two RBIs including a two-run homer.
Niagara scored in five of the nine innings en route to an 11-0 victory to complete a three-game sweep.
The Purple Eagles got the scoring started with a run in the first on a Taylor Hackett RBI single.
In the second, Kirwer doubled home a run and then scored on an error to extend Niagara's lead to three runs.
A four-run third increased the Purple Eagles lead to 7-0. Vangeison touched home on a wild pitch and Kirwer hit an RBI single to right center. Kirwer then scored on an error after a Greg Cullen single before Cullen touched home on a double steal attempt.
Geoff Seto hit an RBI groundout and Vangeison smacked an opposite field two-run homer to give Niagara a 10-0 advantage. Kirwer then capped the 11-0 win when hit popup in the infield had the wind take it from third base to the pitchers mound and fall to the ground for an RBI double.
The Peacocks threatened in the second after James Spadaccini (Butler, N.J./Butler) doubled down the right field line with one out, but the junior was thrown out at the plate trying to score when Gary Puente reached on an error.
Spadaccini was also a part of the Saint Peter's ninth when Mike Ionta (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) was thrown out at the plate in a similar fashion. After Ionta and Jason Midkiff (Wanaque, N.J./Paramus Catholic) each walked, Spadaccini hit the ball to shortstop, who attempted to turn the double play only to see the ball squirt away from the first baseman where Ionta attempted to score but was thrown out at the plate.
John Leiter (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) took the loss for the Jersey City team. The senior had eight strikeouts in five innings of work.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Tuesday at NJIT. The Highlanders defended the Peacocks 11-7 on Mar. 29. First pitch is 3:30 p.m.
