RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (13-16, 4-5 MAAC) settled for a doubleheader split with Manhattan (14-14-1, 6-3 MAAC) on Sunday. The Purple Eagles took game one 8-1, but dropped the second game 7-5.

"Daniel Morari did an excellent job of commanding his three pitches and keeping the Manhattan batters off balance, allowing us to win game one of the day," head coach Chris Chernisky said.

Niagara 8, Manhattan 1
The Purple Eagles scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead and put the game out of reach with a five-run sixth inning in Sunday's opener. Junior Daniel Morari (Saskatoon, Sask.) went the distance to improve to 4-2 on the year.

Morari threw his second complete game of the season, allowing just one run on five hits. The left-hander struck out four batters without walking anyone to earn the win. He faced no more than four batters in any inning.

Freshman Brian Deering (Sprinfield, Va.) recorded his first two hits of the season and scored the winning run on an error by the catcher in the fifth inning. The third baseman also singled home Clint Elkins (Kansas City, Mo.) for his second career RBI.

Elkins lined a bases loaded single into right field in the sixth inning, snapping a Purple Eagle clutch-hitting drought. NU had been slumping at the plate with runner's in scoring position. Freshman Jonny Smith (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) followed the backstop's at bat with a single of his own, bringing home center fielder Frank Kurnik (Reno, Nev.).

Senior Harrison Harber (Kanata, Ont.) went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in the win. He has seven hits in his last four games. Classmate Steve Baldinelli (Niagara Falls, Ont.) went 2-for-2 on the day, while also getting hit twice, while Smith chipped in with a pair of hits as well.

Manhattan 7, Niagara 5
The Jaspers took the rubber match of the series with a back-and-forth affair. Kevin Nieto scored on an RBI single in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead, and his brother, Eric, singled home an insurance run in the sixth for the final margin.

Senior Chris Leendertse (Ancaster, Ont.) hit his first home run of the season in the fourth inning to tie the score at five, but it wasn't enough for the win. He finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) also went 2-for-4 with a double and and RBI.

Smith gave Niagara a 2-0 lead with a double in the second inning that plated Baldinelli and Leendertse.

Michael Kellar (Colifax, Ill.) took the loss and fell to 1-2 on the year pitching 2.1 innings of relief. Starter Marcus Spaulding (Copenhagen, N.Y.) allowed five runs in three innings of action.

The Purple Eagles are back on the diamond for a pair of non-conference games against Ohio teams. Niagara travels to Youngstown State on Tuesday before hosting Cleveland State at Sal Maglie Stadium on Wednesday.