BUFFALO, N.Y. - The baseball team (15-32, 3-21 MAAC) ended its 2007 season with a loss to crosstown rival Canisius (20-33, 13-12 MAAC), Friday, 8-3. The Purple Eagles allowed seven runs and seven hits in the first inning, and could not recover for the victory.

Senior Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont.) settled down to allow just two hits after the opening frame, but Golden Griffin pitching held Niagara in check throughout the contest in the loss.

The Purple Eagles got on the board with a pair of solo home runs, one in the seventh and another in the eighth. Freshman Timothy Cozier (Ajax, Ont.) smacked his first career round-tripper to left field to break up Canisius' shutout bid, and junior Steve Baldinelli (Niagara Falls, Ont.) connected on a drive to right field the following inning.

Senior Brian Clifford (Buffalo, N.Y.) drew a one-out walk and stole a pair of bases in the eighth. The right fielder scored Niagara's third run when the Golden Griffin's catcher threw the ball into left field on Clifford's final stolen base attempt. He continued his fine play in the outfield, making his second leaping catch to rob a home run in as many days. The 6-foot-3 senior snared the ball in right-center and crashed through the fence to record the out in the third inning.

Senior James Nikolaides (Dedham, Mass.) was one of three Purple Eagles to record a pair of hits in the loss. The catcher singled in the fifth and smacked his second double of the series in the seventh, finishing his career with a six-game hitting streak.

Baldinelli and freshman Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) were the other Niagara players with two hits on the day.