NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Riding a five-game winning streak, the Niagara University baseball team (8-17, 4-3) heads to Jaroschak Field, in Jersey City, N.J., for a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series against Saint Peter’s College (2-23, 1-7) Saturday and Sunday. Both Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday’s single game are scheduled for a noon start.

Outscoring their opponents, 29-14, in the last five games, the Purple Eagles swept the doubleheader against the University at Buffalo Tuesday.

In the doubleheader, Niagara was led by solid pitching, which included a win and a save by junior Kyle Nicoletta (Oakville, Ont.), who did not allow a run in three innings of relief against the Bulls.

Starting on the mound Saturday for the Purple Eagles are sophomores Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Josh Sawatzky (Altona, Man.) in Games 1 and 2, respectively. Junior James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) starts Sunday’s contest.

Avery (2-2) and Griffin (0-4) are ranked first and second in the MAAC in strikeouts with 44 and 42, respectively. Sawatzky leads all Niagara pitchers with 46 2-3 innings pitched this season, with a 6.17 ERA.

Junior catcher Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) continues to lead the Purple Eagles with a .337 batting average and 17 RBI. Tied for the team lead in runs scored, Medici has scored a run in the last five games.

Second on the team with 14 RBI, junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) is hitting .240 from the plate with a .467 slugging percentage. His four home runs this season is second on the Purple Eagles.

Junior Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.) went 3-for-5 against Buffalo Tuesday, standing second on Niagara with a .297 batting average.

Heading into this weekend’s series on a three-game losing streak, Saint Peter’s fell to Lafayette Wednesday, 15-2, at Jaroschak Field.

Outscored 48-9 the last three games, the Peacocks are led at the plate by sophomore outfielder Wayne Guarino, who is hitting .379 with six RBI. Against Lafayette Wednesday, Guarino led Saint Peter’s, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Freshman David Lewandoski leads the team with 11 RBI, batting .213 from the plate with a .246 slugging percentage.

Both junior Adam Myers (0-4) and freshman Santo Maertz (0-7) have a team-leading six starts this season, with junior Grevin Rodriguez (0-5) having five starts. Myers leads all Peacock starting pitchers with a 10.26 ERA and 33 1-3 innings pitched. Rodriguez leads the team with 27 strikeouts in his five starts.

Niagara swept Saint Peter’s last season, outscoring the Peacocks, 16-2, in the three-game series at Bobo Field, April 17-18, 2004.