Thunderwolves sweep Jefferson, advance to Region III final four
*** PHOTO CREDIT: GEOFF SCHNEIDER (GMSPHOTOWNY) ***
Onto the final four.
Entering as the No. 1 seed in the West division, SUNY Niagara swept Jefferson Community College in the NJCAA Region III Div. III sub-regional Saturday at Sal Maglie Stadiun. The Thunderwolves took the best-of-3 series in two five-inning affairs, a 15-2 win in Game One and an 11-0 win in Game Two.
Ranking second in the NJCAA Div. III national ranking for a third straight week Monday, SUNY Niagara improved to 48-5 and now prepares for the NJCAA Region III final four, which is scheduled for May 14-16 at Falcon Park in Auburn. The official tournament will be announced this upcoming week.
SUNY Niagara is now 36-0 this season when it scores at least 10 runs in a contest and 401-78 (.837) overall since 2017. Following Saturday's results, SUNY Niagara is 50-2 at Sal Maglie Stadium since 2024 and 37-9 in the NJCAA Region III tournament since 2017.
In the 11-0 win in Game Two against Jefferson, sophomore Mike Schaefer recorded a bases-clearing three-run and became the program’s new career runs batted in leader in the modern era (since 2007). The Southern Indiana commit and Lancaster resident has driven in 116 runs in 101 games, passing former teammate and 2025 Gavyn Boyle’s total of 113 in 106 games.
Game One: SUNY Niagara 15, Jefferson Community College 2, Final, 5 Innings
The Thunderwolves scored five runs each in the first, second and third innings and secured the Game One win.
Dalton Harper and Evan Kohr had a one-run single each, Cam Gruarin had a RBI walk, Alexander Graham had a sacrifice fly and Cooper Prizel grounded out in a fielder’s choice in the first inning (5-0 SUNY Niagara).
The second inning featured a pair of two-run home runs off the bats of Mike Schaefer and Alexander Graham. Gruarin also had a one-run double as the Thunderwolves had a 10-0 lead.
In the third, Kohr had a one-run single and Prizel had a two-run single. The Thunderwolves scored their other three runs in the frame thanks to a sacrifice fly and a groundout.
Schaefer and Kohr each had three hits and drove in two runs apiece. Gruarin had two hits and drove in two runs.
Rossano had two hits and scored twice and Prizel drove in three runs on his two hits.
Keegan Bazinet improved to 10-0 on the season as he threw a no-hitter in four innings, struck out eight and walked one on 60 pitches (37 strikes). The sophomore and George Mason commit recorded his 11th career win, placing him in a five-way tie for eighth most in SUNY Niagara’s modern era (since 2007).
Charlie Chubak allowed two runs on two hits and walked one as he recorded one out. Cooper Polcovich recorded the game’s final two outs on only four pitches.
Game Two: SUNY Niagara 11, Jefferson Community College 0, Final, 5 Innings
SUNY Niagara jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first. Schaefer recorded a bases-clearing three-run double and Alexander Graham had a one-run single.
Cooper Rossano added a one-run single in the second and a two-run single in the fourth (7-0 SUNY). Cam Gruarin also had a two-run double in the fourth, which also featured the Thunderwolves scoring on an infield error and a wild pitch.
Rossano had a team-high two hits and three runs batted in. He also joined Evan Kohr, Dalton Harper and Mike Schaefer as the Thundewolves who scored twice in the win.
Kohr, Harper, Schaefer, Gruarin, Graham, Prizel, and Gigliotti all recorded one hit each. Gigliotti, Prizel and Jacob Hudson all scored a run apiece.
Derrick Allen threw all five innings and improved to 8-0 in his 10th appearance and ninth start. The freshman allowed only two hits, struck out eight and walked four on 79 pitches (48 strikes).