NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team earned its first conference victory of the season with a 7-3 decision over last year's MAAC Champion Rider on Sunday at Sal Maglie Stadium. The Purple Eagles (4-13, 1-2) took advantage of five Bronc (5-9, 2-1) errors and put the game away with back-to-back seventh-inning triples.

"We played well in all three phases of the game (Sunday) and we showed what we are capable of when we play that way," Niagara head coach Rob McCoy said. "This team has a lot of heart and although we have struggled in the early going, we are very close to turning the corner."

Niagara recieved another quality start from senior right-hander Michael Kellar (Colifax, Ill.). Kellar allowed two runs on five hits through 6.1 innings. He walked five, struck out two and picked off a Rider runner in the second inning.

Junior Bill Rafferty (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) finished the seventh inning for Niagara. After Kellar allowed two singles, Rafferty got the Broncs leadoff hitter to pop out to first before picking a baserunner off second base to end the threat.

With the Purple Eagles clinging to a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Cam Stykemain (Defiance, Ohio) drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a groundout to second base. The Purple Eagles then got back-to-back triples by juniors Timothy Cozier (Ajax, Ont.) and Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) to take a 6-2 lead. Cozier's three-bagger was his second in as many days, and Cramer's was a laser down the right-field line, scoring Cozier. Freshman Wynton Bernard (Poway, Calif.) followed the clutch triples with a solid base hit to left field to advance the NU lead to 7-2, chasing Rider starter Patrick Delvin.

Rider threatened in the top of the eighth inning, beginning the frame with back-to-back walks. Matt Jordan (Orangeburg, N.Y.) relieved Rafferty, but walked the next batter to load the bases. After a sacrifice fly made the score 7-3, Jordan struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Murphy but again walked the bases loaded. After falling behind 3-0 to Rider's Eric Woodrow, Jordan threw three consecutive strikes to get the designated hitter looking to end the threat.

Bernard got things started in the second inning when he reached on an error and advanced to third on a failed pick-off attempt. He later scored on an RBI groundout by classmate Jason Allinder (Pocomoke City, Md.). The Purple Eagles scored twice in the third after a pair of errors by the Rider pitcher. Cozier collected a sacrifice fly in the frame.

Niagara also scored in the fourth on back-to-back two-out doubles by senior backstop Matt Lucchesi (San Francisco, Calif.) and sophomore infielder Brian Deering (Springfield, Va.). Both players recorded two hits in the game, along with first baseman Cozier.

The Purple Eagles are back in action with three games in two days in Ohio. Niagara plays Cleveland State on Tuesday before a doubleheader against Kent State on Wednesday.