Quinnipiac University
29-24
Niagara
24-21-1
Mueller Powers Bobcats Past Niagara in First Round of MAAC Tournament
5/24/2023 5:44:00 PM | Baseball
With the win, the Bobcats improved 29-24 overall on the season and extended its win streak to an all-time program-best 10 consecutive victories. Quinnipiac's 29 wins are one shy of tying the program record of 30 wins in a single season, previously set in 2019.
SCORE
QU 13, NIAGARA 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Niagara struck first for a run in the first, the Bobcats responded with three in the bottom of the inning. With two outs in the frame, Sebastian Mueller tanked a solo homer to right-center to knot the contest at 1-1.
𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗘!
— #MAACSports (@MAACSports) May 24, 2023
B1| Mueller hits a solo shot to center to tie it up at 1-1 for @TheQBaseball
🦅 1
🐱 1
📊: https://t.co/wvKOQVJRQj
📺: https://t.co/dn5VxP1kBZ#MAACSports x #MAACBaseball pic.twitter.com/Edj3cgZQqm
Two batters later, Keegan O'Connor blasted a two-run homer to left off of the videoboard to give Quinnipiac a 3-1 lead.
O'Connor just put a dent into the video board in left!! pic.twitter.com/JKgB8wf1kE
— Quinnipiac Baseball (@TheQBaseball) May 24, 2023
Quinnipiac added to its lead in the second after Anthony Donofrio plated Matt Tesoriero from third with a sac-fly to push the lead to 4-1.
Quinnipiac kept its foot on the gas, adding another five runs in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, McGwire Tuffy poked a single to the outfield to score Braydon Seaburg from third to extend the lead to 5-1. After Sean Swenson scored on a wild pitch, Mueller parked his second homer of the day in the left-center field seats to push Quinnipiac's lead to 9-1.
HE DID IT AGAIN!! Mueller hits his second homer of the day and it is 9-1 Bobcats! pic.twitter.com/6jGDndNWTe
— Quinnipiac Baseball (@TheQBaseball) May 24, 2023
The Bobcats did not let up, adding four runs in the sixth inning, starting with an RBI double for Jared Zimbardo to extend the lead to 10-1. Later in the inning, Mueller lined an RBI single, then Zimbardo scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 12-2. It reached 13-2 after an O'Connor sac fly scored Mueller from third.
The lead proved too much for the Purple Eagles, as the game was called due to mercy rule after seven innings with Quinnipiac holding on for the 13-2 victory.
NEWS AND NOTES
● With the win, the Bobcats advance to the second round of the MAAC Tournament
● Quinnipiac has 29 wins on the season, one away from tying the single-season program record for victories
● Sebastian Mueller led the offense with three hits, including two homers and five RBIs
● Mueller's homers were his 17th and 18th of the season, tying Ben Gibson's record for most homeruns in a single season in program history
● Keegan O'Connor homered and drove in three runs in the win
● Jared Zimbardo, Anthony Donofrio and McGwire Tuffy drove in a run apiece in the win
● Kevin Seitter (8-4) earned the win after tossing a complete game (seven innings)
● Seitter allowed one earned run and struck out nine in the outing
ON DECK
● The Bobcats will be back in action on Thursday, May 25, when QU takes on No. 2 Rider in the second round of the MAAC Championship
● First pitch is slated for a 3 p.m. start
For more information on the Quinnipiac baseball team, visit gobobcats.com/baseball and follow the team on Twitter, @TheQBaseball, and Instagram, @bobcatsbsb.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Seitter, Kevin (8-4)
L: Cashman,Marcus (3-2)
Batting:
2B: Mauro,Vincent 1
RBI: Giordano, Max 1
SF: Giordano, Max 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Groves, Nick 1 ; O'Connor, Cole 1
HBP: Marchese,Josh 1
Batting:
2B: Zimbardo, Jared 1 ; Swenson, Sean 1
HR: Mueller, Sebastian 2 ; O'Connor, Keegan 1
RBI: Zimbardo, Jared 1 ; Donofrio, Anthony 1 ; Mueller, Sebastian 5 ; O'Connor, Keegan 3 ; Tuffy, McGwire 1
SF: Donofrio, Anthony 1 ; O'Connor, Keegan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zimbardo, Jared 1 ; Mueller, Sebastian 3 ; Maves, Kyle 1 ; O'Connor, Keegan 1 ; Seaburg, Braydon 1 ; Swenson, Sean 1 ; Tesoriero, Matt 3 ; Tuffy, McGwire 2
SB: Maves, Kyle 2 ; Tesoriero, Matt 2
CS: Zimbardo, Jared 1
HBP: Maves, Kyle 1
