SUNY Niagara splits with Onondaga in NJCAA Region III action Thursday

*** PHOTO COURTESY OF GEOFF SCHNEIDER (GMSPHOTOWNY) ***

SUNY Niagara continued its NJCAA Region III slate and split its doubleheader with Onondaga Community College Thursday at Sal Maglie Stadium. After winning both contests against the Lazers Sunday, the Thundewolves lost in Game One, 7-6, but bounced back with a 12-2 win in five innings. 

For a second straight week, SUNY Niagara was picked second in the latest NJCAA Div. III national ranking, which was released Monday. The Thunderwolves are 43-4 overall and 22-1 in the Region III West standings.  

SUNY Niagara is now 46-2 at Sal Maglie Stadium since the program made the historic venue its new home field in 2024. The Thunderwolves had won 38 straight contests at “The Sal” before the Game One defeat against Onondaga Thursday, dating back to a 4-0 loss to Erie Community College on April 15, 2024.

SUNY Niagara is 31-0 when it scores at least 10 runs in a contest this season and 396-77 (.837) overall since 2017. The Thunderwolves wrap up the regular season with a four-game series against Corning Community College.

Saturday’s doubleheader starts at Noon in Corning. Sunday is SUNY Niagara’s “Sophomore Day” with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at “The Sal.”

Game One: Onondaga Community College 7, SUNY Niagara 6

Despite the loss, Cam Gravelle went 3-for-4 at the plate, drove in a run and scored once. Cam Gruarin and Luke Gigliotti recorded two hits apiece, drove in a run and scored once. 

Dalton Harper also had a two-hit day and drove in a team-high two runs. Mike Schaefer (RBI), Cooper Rossano (one run) and Cooper Prizel (one run) all recorded one hit each and Jacob Hudson scored once. 

In the start, Liam Hadfield allowed two earned runs on two hits, struck out one and walked four in 1.1 innings. Hadfield threw 44 strikes in the performance (20 strikes).

Nolan Bigras came in relief for five innings total. Bigras allowed three earned runs on two hits, struck out three and walked five on 110 pitches (63 strikes). 

Cooper Polcovich then entered from the bullpen and recorded the final two outs of the top of the seventh on only eight pitches (4 strikes). 

Game Two: SUNY Niagara 12, Onondaga Community College 2, Final, 5 Innings

Cam Gruarin went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in four runs on three triples and scored three times. Gruarin also stole three bases in the win. 

Dalton Harper also had a three-hit game, drove in a run and scored twice. Cam Gravelle had two hits, drove in two runs and scored once. 

Evan Kohr (three runs), Cooper Rossano (one run) and Luke Gigliotti (one RBI) had a hit each. Mike Schaefer scored twice and both Cooper Prizel and Shacory Williams delivered one run home. 

Tyler Vogel earned the win, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out two and walked seven in four innings (89 pitches, 43 strikes). Brady Case recorded all three outs in the fifth and did not allow a hit on eight pitches (five strikes).