LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Niagara University baseball team (18-20, 10-6) lost to Rider University (16-22, 8-10), 9-8, Sunday at Daly Field, in Lawrenceville, N.J. The Purple Eagles remain in third place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings following the loss.

Tied 8-8 entering the bottom of the ninth, Broncs senior outfielder Scott Rich hit a walk-off home run off of Niagara reliever Chris Cerchie (LaSalle, Ont./Villanova) to win the game for Rider. The home run was Rich’s second of the game and 10th of the season, leading the Broncs.

The two teams traded leadoff home runs in the first inning. Niagara junior second baseman Vince Ircandia (Calgary, Alb./Central) led-off the top of the first inning, homering to open the game and driving-in his sixth RBI in the three-game series against Rider. The Broncs quickly responded in the bottom half of the first, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead. After Rich hit his first home run in the game to lead off the bottom half of the first, teammate Jonathan Rehm scored when catcher Sean Whalen grounded out to Niagara third baseman Greg Lehman (Croghan, N.Y./Beaver River).

The Purple Eagles got back into the game in the top of the third, leading off the inning with four-straight hits. After consecutive doubles by Tim Fitzgerald (Orchard Park, N.Y./Canisius) and Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man./Neelin), sophomore first baseman Paul Solini (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) singled to left field, bringing home the second run of the inning and giving Niagara a 3-2 lead after the third.

Rider would score six runs over the next three innings to take an 8-6 lead over Niagara with just three innings remaining in the contest.

In the eighth inning, Niagara would tie the game, with hits by Fitzgerald and Eastley, scoring two runs and evening the game at 8-8. However, Rider would win its second-straight game in the bottom of the ninth inning, with Rich’s home run.

Broncs senior pitcher Joe Ambler picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching two innings in relief, giving up three hits and two runs, while striking out two.

Purple Eagles starter Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont./Stittsville) pitched four-and-one-third innings, allowing 10 hits, seven runs and walking six.

Eastley led Niagara offensively, going 4-of-5 from the plate, with three RBI and scoring two runs.

In its next game, Niagara plays Pittsburgh Wednesday at Sal Maglie Field, in Niagara Falls, at 6 p.m.