NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The baseball team (15-29) outlasted Duquesne University (22-26) in an offensive battle Tuesday, 12-11 in the home finale at Sal Maglie Stadium. Every Purple Eagle collected a hit in the win, as Niagara pounded out 17 hits, including eight extra-base hits in the win.

The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead early, but had to break an 11-11 tie in the bottom of the eighth for their second win in a row. Senior James Nikolaides (Dedham, Mass.) lined a leadoff double down the left field line and advanced to third on sophomore Bobby Lenhard’s (Rochester, N.Y.) second sacrifice bunt of the contest. With Duquesne’s infield drawn in on the edge of the grass, junior pinch hitter Steve Baldinelli (Niagara Falls, Ont.) slapped a one-out single past a diving Duke second baseman for the winning RBI.

Sophomore Jessel Mangal (Toronto, Ont.) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first career victory. The right-hander didn’t allow a hit and struck out three batters in the win. Freshman Geoff Strong (Welland, Ont.) tossed a perfect ninth for his team-high sixth save.

Nikolaides was the hitting hero, going 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Junior Harrison Harber (Kanata, Ont.) had a matching 3-for-4 performance, scoring twice and knocking in two more in the win.

The Purple Eagles had a season-high eight extra-base hits (six doubles, a triple and a home run) in the victory. Junior Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) slammed his team-high eighth home run of the season in the fifth inning, finishing 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Niagara scored three runs in the first and third innings to take a 6-0 lead. Senior James Boyack (Buffalo, N.Y.) cruised through the first three innings of his first career start, but ran into trouble in the top of the fourth. The Dukes scored eight runs to take the lead in the fourth, sending 13 batters to the plate. Boyack allowed only three hits, but five runs, four earned, in the inning. The Dukes’ lead was short-lived, however, as Niagara rebounded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 9-8 lead.

The sea-saw battle continued in the next two innings. Duquesne tied the score at 9-9 in the top of the fifth only to have the Purple Eagles take an 11-9 in the bottom of the inning. The Dukes tied the score for the final time in the sixth inning on a two-run home run by center fielder Eric Morrison, setting the stage for the eighth inning heroics.

Senior Brian Clifford (Buffalo, N.Y.) went 2-for-5 with three RBIs in his final home contest of his career. Junior Chris Leendertse (Ancaster, Ont.) was the other Purple Eagle with multiple hits, with a triple to right field in the third inning and a double down the left field line in the fifth.

The Purple Eagles conclude their season with a three-game series in the Battle of the Bridge against Canisius, Thursday and Friday. The action for the Canal Cup starts with a doubleheader at noon on Thursday.