NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (12-11) scored seven unanswered runs in an 8-6 come-from-behind victory over Le Moyne (11-16) in the rubber match of a three-game set on Sunday at Sal Maglie Stadium. The Purple Eagle bullpen kept Niagara in the ball game, as NU was trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the six before the comeback began.

Facing a four-run deficit after the seventh-inning stretch, the Purple Eagle offense got to the Dolphin bullpen for a four-run seventh and a two-run eighth to claim the victory. Seniors Chris Leendertse (Ancaster, Ont.) and Frank Kurnik (Reno, Nev.) collected all six RBIs in the final two frames.

Leendertse tied the game at 6-6 with a bases-loaded single up the middle though he faced a two-strike count. In the bottom of the eighth, in another two-strike count, Kurnik lined a single to left as the winning two runs scored, one after a bobble by the left fielder. Leendertse finished the day 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.

"I couldn't be more proud for Chris and the type of day that he had for this ball club," Niagara head coach Chris Chernisky said. "His bat is starting to come alive and he was huge for us [Sunday]."

The Niagara bullpen pitched 3.1 innings of one-hit baseball to hold the Dolphins at bay and allow the Purple Eagles' bats to come alive. Junior Dennis Chachko (Oceanport, N.J.) earned his first career victory, pitching a perfect eighth inning, and classmate Mark Sikorski (Toronto, Ont.) set the side down in order in the ninth for his fourth save of the year. Sophomore Bill Rafferty (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) started the strong relief core, allowing one hit in an inning and a third.

"Our bullpen did an outstanding job to hold the opposition and help us get the job done," Chernisky explained. "If Bill, Dennis and Mark didn't do what they did for us today, we would not have been able to come back."

The Dolphins extended their early 1-0 lead to 5-0 with four runs in the third inning off starter Marcus Spaulding (Copenhagen, N.Y.). Le Moyne pounded out five hits, three for extra bases in the inning. After allowing an unearned run to Niagara in the fifth inning, LMC added another run in the top of the sixth on a single to center field.

That's when the Purple Eagles decided it was time to do what they do best. For the seventh time this season, Niagara rallied late in the game for a victory. Andrew Macdonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) started the one-out rally with a double to center field. Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) blasted a single that bounced over the third baseman and into left field, while Harrison Harber (Kanata, Ont.) loaded the bases with a base on balls.

Kurnik lined a single to left field that scored Macdonald and Alberts before Leendertse's two-out, two-strike single up the middle to tie the score.

Freshman Cam Stykemain (Defiance, Ohio) extended his personal hit streak to five games with a single through the right side to lead off the eighth. After a perfect sacrifice bunt by Macdonald and a strike out of Alberts, Le Moyne intentionally walked Harber to face Kurnik with two outs. The center fielder made the Dolphins pay with his two-RBI rocket to left field.

"It's a good feeling to know that our entire team can always battle back, no matter what the deficit is," Chernisky added. "We are always within striking distance."

The Purple Eagles are back in action with a day-night double header at Sal Maglie Stadium on Tuesday, April 8, against St. Bonaventure. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. You can follow all the action via live stats by clicking here.