Niagara County Community College banged out 30 hits in two games, then sealed matters with a triple play to win the Western New York Athletic Conference baseball championship on Saturday in Batavia.
N-Trip defeated scholarship-granting Monroe County Community College 14-7 for the title after an unprecedented 14-2 rout of top-seeded Erie Community College in the afternoon semifinal.
With Monroe ahead 5-2, the Blazers rallied with four in the third, including Matt Whidden’s second three-run double of the day.
N-Trip led 13-7 when Monroe loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Matt “Big Daddy” Glowish (Ken West) came on to face Ron Stout, Monroe’s best hitter. Stout rapped a low liner which Brett Backes picked off his shoetops at second, flipping to Scott Jamieson at short and on to Jordan Windish at first to complete the triple play. Glowish shut out the Tribunes through the ninth to earn the save. Striking out six in three innings of mid-game relief, Cameron Cartwright got the win.
In addition to his game-breaking double vs. Erie, Whidden made three spectacular grab-and-throws from third base in the fourth inning. Pitcher Paul McKenna blanked the Kats for seven shutout innings and yielded two unearned runs in the eighth before Devan Carlson closed the door.
For the day, the Blazers’ Brian Kwiatkowski had six hits and Sean Jamieson five. Rob Linhart had five RBI. In N-Trip finished the fall with an 8-7 record but as coach Matt Clingersmith said, “It’s the last three that count the most.”
—Doug Smith
Men’s Soccer
NU ties UB
The Purple Eagles scored twice in the first half — ending the Bulls’ shutout streak that had extended over seven games — but weren’t able to hold on for a win in their final non-conference match.
Levi Tesch opened the scoring in 23 minutes in, tapping in a throw-in from Billy Gustafson. Niagara (6-2-2) took a 2-0 lead when Matt Durand scored his eighth goal of the season on a penalty kick.
Dan Gwyther scored for UB (10-2-2) off a corner kick early in the second half, and Rich Wilson tied the game later with an unassisted goal. John Fiutowski made 10 saves for the Purple Eagles, while Tonawanda native Bobby Shuttleworth stopped four shots for UB.
“I felt we played extremely well in the first half, and deserved the two goal lead,” NU coach Dermot McGrane said. “When Buffalo stepped up the pressure in the second half, we needed to do a better job of possessing the ball.”
The game will air on LCTV at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Women’s Soccer
Gartley leads NU
Stephanie Gartley moved into fourth-place on Niagara’s all-time scoring list with her 46th career goal and assisted on the other two goals to lead the Purple Eagles to their first MAAC win.
Chiara Greco and Kathryn Potter also scored for Niagara (8-3-Marist (2-9, 0-2). It was Niagara’s first win over Marist since 2005.
“It was good to beat Marist since they eliminated us from the MAAC championships last season,” NU coach Peter Veltri said. “The team was extra motivated for this game.”
Lozzi scores twice
Stephanie Lozzi (Lew-Port) had a pair of goals as D’Youville set a school scoring record with an 11-0 win over Wilson in Chambersburg, Pa. Nicole Mosher had a hat trick for D’Youville, which is in second place in the North Eastern Athletic Conference at 2-1 after an 0-6 non-conference campaign.
Women’s Volleyball
Saints sweep Eagles
The Purple Eagles fell to 1-5 in the MAAC with a three-set loss at Saint Peter’s (3-3 MAAC). Kathy Bibler led Niagara (3-14 overall) with 12 kills.
“We did not compete at the level that we are capable of,” NU coach Susan Clements said.
Men’s Golf
NU pair in top 10
Chris Singleton of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Jeremy Christie of St. Catherines each shot 4-over-par 74 at the Bartlett Country Club to help put the Purple Eagles in a tie for 10th-place heading into today’s final round of the Leo Keenan Invitational in Olean. There are 14 teams competing.
Singleton and Christie are tied for eighth place. Jason Polka (Lew-Port) is tied for 49th after shooting 81.
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