BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (16-28, 10-5 MAAC) dropped the opening game of the Big 4 Classic to crosstown rival Canisius (24-19, 8-7 MAAC) on Tuesday at the Demske Sports Complex, 13-7. The Purple Eagle bats gave NU a 4-0 lead, but five fielding errors doomed the team in defeat.

The Golden Griffins scored multiple runs in the third through seventh innings, turning a 4-0 deficit into a 13-4 lead. The Canisius offense pounded out 18 hits against four Niagara pitchers.

Junior Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) collected a pair of hits on the evening, including a two-run double down the left-field line. He finished the day with four RBIs. Rookie Stephen Smith (West Islip, N.Y.) reached base all four times he stepped to the plate. He scored three times, walked three times and collected a line-drive single in the fourth inning.

Mark Sikorski (Toronto, Ont.) fell to 3-5 on the season, allowing six runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Reliever Geoff Strong (Welland, Ont.) allowed just one hit in two innings, striking out a pair while facing the minimum six batters.

The Purple Eagles will play the lsoer of Buffalo and St. Bonaventure in the consulation game at Canisius on Wednesday at 3 p.m.