PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The baseball team (4-7) produced a season-high 20 hits and 24 runs in a 24-8 victory over the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Wednesday. The win improved the Purple Eagles record on their eight-day spring break trip to 3-1 at the midway point.

"I am very proud with how our team responded to the loss at Virginia with a victory today," Niagara head coach Chris Chernisky said. "We showed a lot of resilience and we did an excellent job of taking our style of play to the opposition."

One day after suffering their worst loss of the season, a 29-2 defeat at the hands of No. 7 Virginia, the Purple Eagles responded by scoring the most runs in the last five seasons.

Junior first baseman Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) slammed two home runs and scored five runs while extending his hit streak to 33 games. He went 3-for-4 with four RBI.

Senior Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont.) picked up a win in his first start of the season, striking out two in five innings of work. Niagara scored 18 runs in the first five inning to give the left hander tremendous run support.

Five Purple Eagles had multi-hit games, led by freshman Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.). The third baseman went 4-for-5 while scoring two runs and knocking in two more. Twelve Purple Eagles collected a hit in the win.

The first seven batters of the third inning reached base before an out was recorded as Niagara batted around while scoring eight runs. The Purple Eagles also batted around in the fifth and ninth innings, scoring six runs both times.

MAAC Player of the Week Frank Kurnik (Reno, Nev.) and Steve Baldinelli (Niagara Falls, Ont.) also hit home runs in the victory.

The Purple Eagles are back in action with a series at Maryland-Baltimore County, March 16-18.