By Nate Beutel
NIAGARA FALLS — Matt Schimpf said he was looking for a change of scenery this summer.
Thus far, it appears he’s found a home in the Falls.
The University of Texas at Tyler-bound right-hander went seven strong innings Thursday night against his former New York Collegiate Baseball League team, the Alfred Oilers, as the Niagara Power earned a 6-3 win before 144 fans on Opening Night at Sal Maglie Stadium.
“I love those guys that I played with last year and I respect them a lot, but it’s pretty cool to throw a good game against them,” Schimpf said. “To be honest, I was really relaxed out there. I didn’t have too many butterflies.”
Schimpf, who noted that he had good movement on all his pitches the entire night, allowed only five hits and two runs. He struck out four and walked none.
“I was really impressed with him,” Power skipper Sam Kirby said of Schimpf. “His two-seamer had a lot of life and most important, he wasn’t afraid to go inside.”
Trailing 1-0 in the third, Schimpf got some help from his offense as Brian Goodwin and Travis Latz each notched an RBI.
After Alfred tied the game at two in fourth, Niagara came back with a pair of their own in the fifth on a two-run single off the bat of Marshall McDonald. With two outs in the frame, Angelo Buscemi kept Niagara alive with a double to left field. Latz then walked, setting the stage for the game-winning hit.
“Getting those big hits with two outs will win you a lot of ballgames,” Kirby said.
The Power would add one run in both the sixth and seventh on a bases-loaded walk and a Bob Harper RBI single before Schimpf turned it over to the bullpen.
Lefty Chris Kuenzle got the first two outs of the eighth before having trouble finding the plate and giving way to Chris Hackett. The lanky right-hander induced a ground out to end the eighth and set the Oilers down in order in the ninth.
“Hackett was put in a tough situation with the bases loaded in the eighth and he came up huge for us,” Kirby said.
Niagara, which travels to Brockport today and returns home for a weekend homestand, is now 2-0 on the season with consecutive victories over the Oilers.
“To be 2-0 is awesome really,” Schimpf said. “Baseball is a game of momentum and I think we have it right now. It’s great to see us clicking this early. I’m excited to see what this season brings.”
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.
