FAIRFIELD, Conn., - The Niagara baseball team (6-3 MAAC) earned its first three-game sweep of a conference opponent since 2006 after taking both games of a Sunday doubleheader at first-place Fairfield (3-3 MAAC). The Purple Eagles got a pair of fantastic pitching performances on the afternoon to win 6-1 and 7-1.

Freshman Joe Candelmo (Orefield, Pa.) and senior Michael Kellar (Colifax, Ill.) both had similar Sunday pitching lines. The hurlers both tossed complete games, allowing four hits while striking out nine. For Candelmo, it was the rookie's first career victory.

"We pitched and played defense (Sunday) the way that we are capable of," Niagara head coach Rob McCoy said. "I was most impressed with our mental toughness and acuity."

The three-game sweep was the first since May 19-20, 2006, when NU swept Saint Peter's at home. That season, Niagara earned four series sweeps, including one on the road, at Iona, on March 25-26.

Niagara 6, Fairfield 1
Junior Trevor Rutkowski (Crystal Lake, Ill.) busted out of his recent hitting slump with a perfect 4-for-4, two-run performance in game one.

The Purple Eagles collected 11 hits in the seven-inning affair, while Candelmo held the Stags to just four. The rookie left-hander carried a three-hit shutout into the bottom of the seventh before allowing a solo home run for the final 6-1 margin. The nine strikeouts were a career-high.

Sophomore Brian Deering (Springfield, Va.) had a pair of doubles and was one of five Purple Eagles with one RBI. Junoir Matt Wietlispach (Chicago, Ill.) joined Rutkowski and Deering with a multiple-hit game.

Niagara 6, Fairfield 1
Freshman Wynton Bernard (Poway, Calif.) became the second Purple Eagle of the day with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, scoring three times and knocking in a pair.

Eight of the nine NU starters collected a hit in the win, including Wietlispach's second two-hit performance of the day and junior shortstop Jason Cramer's (Jackson, N.J.) 3-for-4, three run afternoon.

Kellar didn't allow a hit until the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff double. After a pair of walks, a sacrifice fly was the only damage on the senior's stat sheet. He struck out nine batters while walking three.

Niagara returns to Sal Maglie Stadium for a non-conference tilt with Cleveland State on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.