NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (19-24, 7-11 MAAC) erased a 3-1 deficit with a three-run sixth inning and held on for a 7-4 victory at Iona (4-37, 4-17 MAAC) on Sunday. The Purple Eagles scored six of their seven runs, including all three in the pivotal sixth, with two outs.

After the first two Purple Eagles were retired in the sixth inning, Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) started the two-out rally with an infield single. Clint Elkins (Kansas City, Mo.) followed with a single to center before first baseman Chris Leendertse (Ancaster, Ont.) drove home Alberts with an RBI single to left field, cutting the Gael lead to one.

The big blow came off the bat of pinch hitter Graham Skelhorne-Gross (Mississagua, Ont.). The junior brought home Elkins and Leendertse with a double to center field.

"Graham came up big for us in a key situation again, and fortunately, our team was able to build on that with timely hitting and quality pitching," Niagara head coach Chris Chernisky said. "Once again, Marcus Spaulding did his job on the hill, and Dennis Chachko closed the door."

Three Gaels errors increased Niagara's lead to 6-3 in the seventh inning. Frank Kurnik (Reno, Nev.) and Alberts picked up RBIs in the inning. Alberts finished the NU scoring with his seventh home run of the season with two outs in the ninth inning.

Marcus Spaulding (Copenhagen, N.Y.) pitched into the seventh inning, striking out five batters while allowing four runs. Dennis Chachko (Oceanport, N.J.) finished out the contest for his first career save. He struck out three batters while allowing just two hits.

Kurnik, Alberts, Elkins, Leendertse and Jonny Smith (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) each recorded two hits on the afternoon. Skelhorne-Gross and Alberts knocked in two runs each.

Niagara is off during the week for finals, but returns to the diamond in a three-game homestand against Marist College on Saturday and Sunday.