T'Wolves split with Tribunes; Gigliotti scores go-ahead run on Gravelle’s single in eighth as part of Game One win
*** PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEOFF SCHNEIDER (GMSPHOTOWNY) ***
SUNY Niagara saw its winning streak end at 15 straight after splitting its two-game series with Monroe Community College in WNYAC action Saturday in Rochester. The Thunderwolves won the first contest in eight innings, 6-5, but lost in the second meeting, 3-2.
Ranked third in the NJCAA Div. III rankings for a fourth consecutive week Monday, and voted first in the NJCAA Region III Baseball Coaches poll for a third straight week Friday, SUNY Niagara is now 26-3 overall. After the split Saturday, the Thunderwolves are 16-5 against the Tribunes since 2018 and have won six of the last seven meetings over the last two seasons.
Over the last 10 seasons (since 2017), SUNY Niagara is now 379-76 overall (.833 win percentage). Following the split Saturday, the Thunderwolves are 35-31 in games decided by one run (1-2 in 2026) and 6-9 in extra-inning contests since 2017.
SUNY Niagara continues its season when it visits Genesee Community College for an NJCAA Region III doubleheader at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Batavia. The Thunderwolves defeated the Cougars, 10-0, in five innings March 26 at Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls and have won 25 of the last 27 meetings since 2017.
Game One: SUNY Niagara 6, Monroe Community College 5 F/8
SUNY Niagara jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning after two big scoring plays.
Dalton Harper recorded a two-run double to right field and brought home both Evan Kohr and Cam Gravelle (2-0 SUNY Niagara). Harper and Mike Schaefer then scored on Alexander Graham’s two-run single to right center (4-0 SUNY Niagara).
The host Tribunes then tied up the game at 4-4 after they recorded one run in the second and three in the third off SUNY Niagara starting pitcher Derrick Allen. The Thunderwolves then took a brief lead in the top of the fourth as Cooper Prizel scored on a wild pitch (5-4).
Monroe CC recorded the game’s second tie of the game (5-5) in the bottom of the fourth, which was also the last run before extra innings.
In the top of the eighth and on a 2-2 pitch, Cam Gravelle sent Luke Gigliotti home on a one-run single to left field and gave SUNY Niagara a 6-5 lead. Cooper Polcovich then recorded his second save of the season in the bottom of the eighth as he allowed no runs on two hits and one strikeout (19 pitches).
Gravelle and Gigliotti recorded two hits and scored a run each. Graham, Harper, Kohr and Joe Panzarella recorded one hit each and the Thunderwolves finished with six runs on eight hits.
In the start, Allen logged seven innings of work and allowed four earned runs on 122 pitches. Allen also allowed eight hits and recorded four strikeouts and five walks.
Game Two: Monroe Community College 3, SUNY Niagara 2 F/7
SUNY Niagara's Jonah Moscato (Geoff Schneider/GMSPHOTOWNY)
SUNY Niagara trailed 2-0 through the first four innings before Evan Kohr recorded a one-run single and sent Jacob Hudson home in the top of the fifth (2-1 Monroe). In his 28th game of the season, this was Kohr’s 15th career run batted in.
The Tribunes then extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth. The Thunderwolves then cut the deficit to one run in the top of the seventh (3-2 Monroe), but then recorded three consecutive strikeouts that ended the rally and the game.
SUNY Niagara recorded two runs on six hits at the plate. Graham, Hudson, Kohr, Cam Gravelle, Dalton Harper and Mike Schaefer recorded one hit each.
In the loss, freshman and Wellsville resident Tyler Vogel threw 5.1 innings, allowed one earned run on seven hits, recorded three strikeouts, and three walks on 91 pitches. Classmate and Fredonia resident Ashton Putney recorded the final two outs in the bottom of the sixth and recorded his 16th strikeout of the season (seven pitches).