JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter's University baseball team opened the 2021 season with a split against Niagara University in Jersey City at Joseph J. Jaroschak Field. The Peacocks shutout the Purple Eagles 5-0 in the series opener, before falling 12-1 in the second game.
Game 1
Score: Saint Peter's 5, Niagara 0
Records: Saint Peter's (1-0, 1-0 MAAC) | Niagara (9-6, 9-6 MAAC)
Location: Joseph J. Jaroschak Field | Jersey City, NJ
How It Happened
- After two innings of scoreless action, starting right handed pitcher Ian Concevitch (1-0) and the Peacock defense retired the side in order to keep the tilt tied at 0-0.
- In the bottom half of the third, SPU jumped out to a 3-0 advantage, recording three runs and three hits in the frame.
- Leadoff hitter Brad Barkema opened the inning with a leadoff double to left center, putting himself in scoring position right away.
- Following a wild pitch that advanced Barkema to third and a drawn walk by Jake Wagner, Anthony Abbatine blasted an RBI double to right field, sending Barkema home.
- A wild pitch would score Wagner from third for the team's second run and advance Mike DiPede, who came in to pinch run for Barkema following an injury, from second to third.
- With two outs and a runner in scoring position, captain Andrew Connor hit a single passed the shortstop, driving in DiPede for the third and final run of the frame.
- Concevitch continued to deal, striking out two of the three batters faced in the fourth and only allowing one hit in the fifth to preserve the lead.
- Captain Chris Marquart stepped to the bag in the bottom of the fifth with two down and one on, and sent a bomb over the right field wall adding two more runs to the Peacock total.
- The five runs would prove to be enough as Saint Peter's defense popsted a 1-2-3 sixth inning and forced Niagara to leave three runners on in the seventh inning to secure the 5-0 shutout win.
Notes
- Concevitch recorded his first complete game shutout in a Peacock uniform, putting in 7.0 innings of work, with six strikeouts, four hits, and one walk.
- He is now 2-0 over his last two starts dating back to last season, when he earned the program's first ever win over a Power Five Conferences foe in Rutgers.
- At the plate, the Peacocks were efficient, converting six hits into five runs, only leaving two players left on base the entire afternoon.
- Six different players recorded one hit, while Marquart (HR), Barkema (double), and Abbatine (double) earned extra base hits.
- Marquart led the squad with two RBI, while Abbatine and Connor each batted in one run.
- DiPede was the team leader in runs scored, crossing home plate twice.
- Saint Peter's defense only allowed four total hits and left seven Niagara runners on base.
- The season opening win was the first for the program since a 10-8 win over Maryland Eastern Shore to begin 2016 and it was the first MAAC opening victory for SPU since edging Quinnipiac 5-4 to start conference play in 2015.
Game 2
Score: Saint Peter's 1, Niagara 12
Records: Saint Peter's (1-1, 1-1 MAAC) | Niagara (10-6, 10-6 MAAC)
Location: Joseph J. Jaroschak Field | Jersey City, NJ
How It Happened
- Niagara jumped out to a 7-0 lead through the first four innings, scoring two in both the first and third, before adding three in the fourth.
- The Peacocks would erase the shutout in the bottom of the fourth by way of a sacrifice fly by Joey Vitiello, scoring Marquart from third.
- The Purple Eagles tacked on five more runs in the sixth to bring the contest to a halt at 12-1.
Notes
- Righty, Jordan Warecke (0-1), got the start and was dealt the loss in game two after 3.2 innings on the mound where he struck out five, but gave up five earned runs (seven runs in total).
- Saint Peter's had four hits in the defeat and left seven on.
- DiPede, Connor, Wagner, and Sam Delcollo all earned a hit.
Up Next
- The Peacocks and Purple Eagles will close out the series in Jersey City on Sunday with first pitch set for 10am.
