FAIRFIELD, Conn. – With original start of the three-game series postponed due to rain, the Niagara University baseball team (12-18, 7-5) split its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Fairfield University (8-26, 6-8) Sunday at Alumni Diamond.

Notching 13 hits by seven different players, the Purple Eagles won Game 1 of the doubleheader, 6-2, losing Game 2 after a last-inning Fairfield comeback, 6-5.

Junior Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.) led Niagara from the plate Sunday, going 5-for-8 with a team-leading three RBI.

Game 1 - Niagara 6, Fairfield 2

Niagara led 6-0 before surrendering two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

After freshman Andrew MacDonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) and junior Andrew MacNevin (St. Catharines, P.E.I.) reached, Alati doubled to right center, allowing the Purple Eagles to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Ahead 3-0 heading into the fourth inning, Niagara proceeded to score three runs over the following three innings.

A triple by MacDonald -- who went 2-for-5 in Game 1 -- in the sixth led to the final run by the Purple Eagles, scoring junior Matt Schaefer (Clifton Park, N.Y.) from third.

Fairfield junior John Scaife hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, breaking the Niagara shutout.

Picking up his third win of the season, junior pitcher James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) went seven innings, striking out eight.

Fairfield junior Steve Tyburski (1-5) allowed eight hits and five runs in the loss.

Going 1-for-3 in the win, Niagara sophomore Brian Clifford (Buffalo) had two RBI.

Game 2 - Fairfield 6, Niagara 5

The Stags overcame a one-run deficit, scoring two runs in the seventh and final inning to capture the 6-5 win.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Fairfield junior infielder Dewey Raymond singled to left, scoring junior Doug Anderson and tying the game at 5-5.

The next batter, Stag junior catcher Tom Arpino, hit a bases-loaded single off of Niagara junior Kyle Nicoletta (Oakville, Ont.), scoring Scaife and the game-winning run.

The Purple Eagles held a 5-0 lead in Game 2, highlighted by Alati’s solo home run to right to lead off the fourth, his fourth home run of the season.

Fairfield scored six runs over the final three innings in the comeback victory, with Raymond getting hits in all three frames. The junior led the Stags with five hits in the two games, going 5-for-8 in the doubleheader.

Stags senior pitcher Tim Dugan pitched all seven innings in the win, striking out five batters while walking one.

Niagara sophomore Josh Sawatzky (Altona, Man.) pitched 5 1-3 innings in a no decision, allowing four hits and striking out four.

Sunday’s doubleheader marked the return of Niagara senior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.), who missed the last 15 games due to injury. Eastley, the 2005 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, had a hit in the split, scoring two runs.

The two teams conclude the conference series Monday at Alumni Diamond, with game time set for noon.