WASHINGTON, Pa. – The baseball team (7-10) put together 12 hits and eight runs and never trailed in an 8-6 win over Duquesne (9-9) at Ross Memorial Field, Tuesday. Freshman Marcus Spaulding (Copenhagen, N.Y.) earned his first career victory, helping the Purple Eagles snap a three-game slide.

"Today’s win was exactly what we were looking for to rebound from last weekend’s games," Niagara head coach Chris Chernisky said. "I was very pleased with our resilience."

Senior Brian Clifford (Buffalo N.Y./Bishop Timon) and juniors Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Steve Baldinelli (Niagara Falls, Ont.) each had three hits in the Purple Eagle win. Clifford had a triple and an RBI and Baldinelli scored two runs with a double.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the fifth inning, Alberts blasted his team-high sixth home run, a two-run shot that gave Niagara a lead it would not relinquish.

Spaulding went five innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out a pair. Sophomore left-hander Chris Coleman (Pittsford, N.Y.) pitched two scoreless innings of relief while allowing one base hit.

Freshman Geoff Strong (Welland, Ont.) earned his second-career save, getting the tying run to ground out in the bottom of the ninth. The righty pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out two.

Niagara returns home for the first time this season to face Iona in a three-game series, March 31-April 1, at Sal Maglie Stadium’s home opener.