NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team (15-18) defeated Fairfield University (12-17, 7-8) in the final game of a three-game series at Bobo Field Monday. With the win, the Purple Eagles moved to 9-4 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games.

After rain postponed the previous day’s encounter after a scoreless the first inning, Niagara struck first in Monday’s contest. In the fourth inning, with junior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man./Neelin) on third base, Fairfield third baseman Jim Girolamo bobbled a liner by Niagara sophomore Andrew MacNevin (St. Catherines, P.E.I./Bluefield), allowing Eastley to score from third and give Niagara a 1-0 lead.

The Stags recovered to score two runs in the top of the sixth, with seniors Antuan Barnett and Sal Mancuso driving in runs. Barnett brought home the first Fairfield run with a long drive to the centerfield wall, bringing home senior Nick Hudyma who led off the inning with a walk.

With the Purple Eagles down 2-1, hits by sophomore Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont./St. Michael’s) and MacNevin led off the bottom of the sixth inning for Niagara. A double to right center by freshman Brian Clifford (Cheektowaga/Bishop Timon) brought in the tying run for the Purple Eagles, followed by a Greg Lehman (Croghan, N.Y./Jefferson C.C.) sacrifice hit -- scoring MacNevin -- to give Niagara a 3-2 lead and the eventual win.

Junior Vince Ircandia (Calgary, Alb./Central) would add an insurance run in the eighth inning, scoring on a long flyball down the rightfield line by Eastley.

Pitching in relief in the sixth inning, junior Chris Cerchie (Lasalle, Ont./Villanova) picked up the win for the Purple Eagles, pitching three-and-a-third scoreless innings and allowing only three hits.

Niagara returns to action Tuesday when it faces the University at Buffalo at Dunn Tire Park, in Buffalo, in the Big Four Baseball Classic. Game time is set for 3 p.m.