RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (12-15, 3-4 MAAC) dropped a close game at Manhattan (13-13-1, 5-2 MAAC) on Saturday, 6-4. The lead changed hands four times in the series opener, but the Jaspers relied on the long ball to retake the lead on two separate occasions.

"We were unable to get a big hit when we needed it [Saturday]," head coach Chris Chernisky said. "We will bounce back tomorrow, though."

Junior right-hander Dennis Chachko (Oceanport, N.J.) allowed a pair of solo home runs in the seventh inning that turned a tie game into the 6-4 final. Chachko relieved senior starter Mark Wilson (Peterborough, Ont.), who turned in his second-straight quality start. The co-captain allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings while striking out four.

The Purple Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on RBIs by Harrison Harber (Kanata, Ont.) and Frank Kurnik (Reno, Nev.). Andrew Macdonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) walked to start the inning before Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) hit a double in the left-field gap. Harber singled home Macdonald, while Kurnik collected an RBI fielder's choice.

The Jaspers promptly responded with a solo home run by Mark Onorati in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 2. An RBI double by Dom Lombardi gave Manhattan a 3-2 lead with just one out, but Wilson struck out the next two batters to end the frame.

Niagara would score twice in the sixth to take the lead 4-3 without a hit. Alberts and Harber each drew a bases loaded walk after Jasper starter Tom Costigan hit the first two batters and walked Macdonald.

The Jaspers countered with a two-out triple and an RBI double that chased Wilson, tying the score at 4 to set up the seventh inning.

Harber reached base all five time on the day, going 2-for-2 with three walks and a pair of RBIs. Macdonald finished the day 2-for-3 with a run scored in the loss. The shortstop also drew a pair of walks. Alberts recorded one hit, one run and an RBI in the loss.

The Purple Eagles left 13 runners on base in the loss, including leaving the bases loaded three separate times. Steve Baldinelli (Niagara Falls, Ont.) grounded out to short in the first to leave the sacks jammed, while Kurnik grounded out in the sixth and struck out looking in the eighth with the tying runners in scoring position.

The Purple Eagles continue their MAAC series with the Japsers on Sunday. First pitch of the doubleheader begins at noon.