Vince Ircandia was 2 for 3 with a RBI Saturday vs. Iona.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team (7-13, 3-1) scored four runs in the ninth inning to beat Iona College (5-17, 0-4), 8-5, Saturday in New Rochelle, N.Y.

With the score tied at four entering the ninth, the Purple Eagles scored four runs on one hit. Junior Vince Ircandia (Calgary, Alb.) singled up the middle to score Andrew MacNevin (St. Catherines, P.E.I.). The second and third runs came when Ircandia and Brian Clifford (Buffalo, N.Y./Bishop Timon) scored on an error. Tim Fitzgerald (Orchard Park, N.Y./Canisius) was Niagara’s four player to score when Mike Alati (Woodridge, Ont.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Purple Eagles gave up a home run in the bottom of the inning for the final score. Niagara has won five of its last six games.

Sophomore Kyle Nicoletta (Oakville, Ont.) got the win on the mound, throwing four innings and giving up two runs. Sophomore James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) started the game and went five innings and allowed three runs.

Offensively, Ircandia was 2 for 3 with a run batted in and two runs scored. Junior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.) was 2 for 4 and Paul Solini (Liverpool, N.Y.) 2 for 5 with two RBI.

Niagara opened the game with two runs in the first inning. Fitzgerald singled to left, reached third on a Eastley double and then scored on an Alati sacrafice fly. Solini got the RBI with a single up the middle to score Eastley.

The Purple Eagles had a 3-2 lead after three innings when Ircandia singled, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on an Eastley sacrafice fly.

Iona tied the game in the eighth when a run scored on a single to right field.

Niagara returns to action Sunday when it plays a doubleheader vs. Iona.