AMHERST, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (10-20) dropped a pair of seven-inning games at the University at Buffalo (12-17) in blustery conditions at the Amherst Audobon Field on Wednesday.

The Purple Eagles scored 11 runs in both games, but were unable to pick up a win facing tough playing conditions. NU allowed 21 runs in the first game and 13 in the second on a cold, wet and windy afternoon.

Junior Trevor Rutkowski (Crystal Lake, Ill.) combined to go 5-for-9 on the day with two home runs and a double. The third baseman knocked in five runs and scored four more.

Rutkowski, Alex Otto (Ajax, Ont.) and Matt Lucchesi (San Francisco, Calif.) each collected two hits in the first game, but the bottom of the third gave NU trouble. UB sent 17 runners to the plate, scoring 13 times to take a 13-2 lead and set the tone for the afternoon.

In game two, Rutkowski collected three hits, while infielders Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) and Brian Deering (Springfield, Va.) each added two hits. Both Deering and Rutkowski had three RBIs.

On the mound, senior Mark Sikorski (Toronto, Ont.) and freshman Adam Wagner (Defiance, Ohio) took the losses.

The Purple Eagles continue conference play on Saturday and Sunday with a three-game set at home against Siena.