NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Three Niagara University pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout Sunday afternoon as the Purple Eagles downed Saint Peter’s, 6-0, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Bobo Field.

The three-game sweep was Niagara’s first of the season. Sunday’s game was delayed three hours and 40 minutes following the morning rain shower.

Freshman Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont./Stittsville) allowed three hits and struck out five batters in seven innings of work. Virtue, who improved to 4-0 with the win, allowed back-to-back hits to open the game before getting a double play and a ground out to end the first-inning threat. At one point, Virtue retired 15 consecutive batters before allowing a one-out walk in the sixth inning. Relievers Chris Cerchie (Jr., Lasalle, Ont./Villanova) and Matt Fuller (So., Rochester/McQuaid Jesuit) also pitched a scoreless inning as the Purple Eagles shut out Saint Peters for the final 19 innings of the three-game series.

Niagara plated three runs in the second inning. Andrew MacNevin (So., St. Catherines, P.E.I.) reached on a one-out error and Michael Medici (So., Latham, N.Y./Shaker) was hit by a pitch. Greg Lehman (Sr., Croghan, N.Y./Beaver River) delivered a two-out single to center field to score MacNevin and put the Purple Eagles on the scoreboard. Morgan DuBois (Fr., Homer, N.Y./Homer) reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error, which allowed Medici to score. Lehman later stole home for the third run of the inning.

The Purple made it 4-0 in the third inning when Paul Solini (So., Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) reached on a one-out single to right-center field. Solini advanced to second base on a balk and then moved to third base on an infield out. Medici reached on another Saint Peters error, scoring Solini.

DuBois opened the Niagara half of the seventh inning when he reached on an error, one of seven Saint Peter’s miscues in the game. Vince Ircandia (Jr., Calgary, Alb./Central) was hit by a pitch and both players advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by Tim Fitzgerald (Sr., Orchard Park, N.Y./Canisius). Reed Eastley (Jr., Brandon, Man./Neelin) then delivered a two-run single to close the Niagara scoring.

The Purple Eagles, now 13-15 overall and 8-2 in MAAC play, meet Akron in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Sal Maglie Field in Niagara Falls, N.Y.