Thunderwolves eliminated by Erie in Region III sub-regionals
*** PHOTO CREDIT: SUNY NIAGARA ATHLETICS ***
SUNY Niagara saw its season come to a close against Erie Community College in the NJCAA Region III Division II B sub-regionals Tuesday in Williamsville. In what was a best-of-3 game series, the sixth-seeded Thunderwolves lost 8-0 in six innings in Game One followed by a 12-4 seven-inning defeat in Game Two versus the No. 3 Kats.
SUNY Niagara finished 14-20 overall and went 12-10 in NJCAA Region III play during the regular season. This was the Thunderwolves' first season with double-digit wins since 2023 and the fourth this decade (11 in 2021, 31 in 2022, 26 in 2023), and their best finish in regional play since going 25-4 in 2023.
Tuesday marked SUNY Niagara's first postseason appearance since a pair of losses against Onondaga Community College in the Region III North A District Semifinals in 2023. The Thunderwolves were also aiming for their first district championship appearance since a loss to Corning Community College in the Region III North A championship in 2022.
This was also the final two contests for sophomores Mia Herman (Barker), Caitlyn Hanley (West Seneca West), Lauren Kisloski (Tonawanda), Quinn Manth (North Tonawanda), Jordan Shaffer (North Tonawanda), and Sidney Ziemendorf (Wilson).
Game One: Erie Community College 8, SUNY Niagara 0, Final, 6 Innings
Erie scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first and held a 1-0 lead through the first three-and-a-half innings. The Kats then scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth, leading 6-0.
Erie then scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, which enforced the run rule of eight runs after five innings.
Quinn Manth, Gianna Simone and Caitlyn Hanley recorded one hit each. Hanley also threw 5.1 innings in the circle, allowing seven runs on 11 hits along with four strikes and three walks on 113 pitches (71 strikes).
Game Two: Erie Community College 12, SUNY Niagara 4, Final, 7 Innings
Erie jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The lead was erased in the bottom of the first as Caitlyn Hanley delivered a two-run home run, her first of the season and fourth of her Thunderwolf career.
Erie broke the tie with one run in the top of the third and later scored four in the top fo the fifth (7-2 Erie). The Kats continued to score with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh (12-2 Erie).
SUNY Niagara recorded its final two runs of the season in the bottom of the seventh. Miranda Shingleton brought home Gianna Simone on a one-run single (12-3 Erie) and Quinn Manth scored on an outfield error during Molly Syposs' at-bat (12-4 Erie).
Manth went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Miranda Shingleton went 2-for-4 and drove in a run, her team-leading 43rd RBI of the season.
Along with the two-run home run, Hanley scored a run. Gianna Simone (two hits) and Syposs (one hit) each scored a run.
Marissa Shingleton got the start and threw 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits, along with two strikeouts and two walks. Forty-nine of Shingleton's 81 pitches were strikes.
Hanley came in relief and allowed four runs on three hits in 1.2 innings (29 pitches, 21 strikes)