LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (8-7, 1-1 MAAC) was victorious in its conference opener on Saturday with an 12-4 win over the Siena Saints (2-13, 1-1 MAAC) at Siena Field in Loudonville, N.Y. The Purple Eagles manufactured five runs in the first six innings before erupting with six runs in the eighth inning to ensure the victory. The Saints claimed game two with a 7-4 decision.

Niagara 12, Siena 4
The Purple Eagle offense gave struggling starter Mark Wilson (Peterborough, Ont.) plenty of run support to snap the senior's personal losing streak. Prior to today's start, Wilson was 0-8 in his previous 10 outings. The right-hander was stellar on the mound in game one of a double header, scattering three runs on seven hits in six innings of action while striking out three.

"As a staff, we were very pleased with the effort put forth in game one," Niagara head coach Chris Chernisky said, "especially on the mound. Wilson really was the key for us in the win."

Senior Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored in the win. The left fielder singled home Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) in the first inning and scored on an RBI single from center fielder Frank Kurnik (Reno, Nev.) to give NU a 2-0 lead. He recorded a sacrifice fly in the third to extend the lead to 3-1 and singled home Matt Lucchesi (San Francisco, Calif.) in the sixth to up the advantage to 5-2.

While the five runs through six innings was enough for Wilson, Kurnik made sure to get his classmate the victory. After extending the lead to 7-3 in the eighth on a two-run single by senior second baseman Harrison Harber (Kanata, Ont.), Kurnik hit a grand slam to push the Purple Eagle advantage to 11-3.

Six Purple Eagles finished the game with multiple hits, led by Kurnik's 3-for-4, five RBI outing. Harber added a sacrifice fly in the ninth to give him three RBIs in the win.

Michael Kellar (Colifax, Ill.) pitched the final three innings for his first career save.

Siena 7, Niagara 4
The Purple Eagles suffered from misopportunites on the mound in the second game of the twinbill, allowing the bottom of the Saints' lineup to do most of the damage. The 6-7-8-9 batters for Siena scored five runs and knocked in five.

Junior Dan Morari (Saskatoon, Sask.) fell to 1-2 on the hill this season, as he took the loss in the seven-inning contest. The left-hander allowed five runs, four earned, in three innings of play.

Senior backstop Clint Elkins (Kansas City, Mo.) went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs in the loss.

The two teams will play on Easter Sunday at noon for the season series. Follow the live stats by clicking here.