BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (14-10 MAAC) dropped the final regular season game of the season to rival Canisius (16-8 MAAC), 17-6, at Demske Sports Complex. The Purple Eagles scored six times in the first three innings, but were held scoreless over the final six frames.

The Niagara loss, coupled with a late-inning Fairfield collapse at Marist means that the Purple Eagles will need to wait until Saturday to find out their postseason fate. NU controlled its own destiny heading into the final series, but after getting swept for the first time this season, the team's fate is controlled by four Saturday conference games.

Senior hurler Michael Kellar (Colifax, Ill.) entered the final regular season start with a 6-0 record and a miniscule 2.65 earn-run average, but the Golden Griffin offense touched him up for five first-inning runs in jumping out to a 5-2 lead. Kellar settled down after the opening frame, but a high pitch count for the third consecutive week doomed the NU ace as he collected his first conference setback of the year.

The Purple Eagles offense scored two in the first and rebounded with three in the second to tie the score at 5-5. After Canisius took a 7-5 lead into the third, the Purple Eagles scratched a run across but would get no further as the Golden Griffins stifled the NU offense and continued to post runs in the win.

"Our game is pitching and defense, and we are not going to outhit too many teams, especially Canisius," Niagara head coach Rob McCoy said. "I thought we hit the ball well today, but obviously not good enough, because they put six-straight zeros on the board."

Offensively for Niagara, Brian Deering (Springfield, Va.) and Stephen Smith (West Islip, N.Y.) each collected two hits, while Cam Stykemain (Defiance, Ohio) and Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) brought home two runs apiece. Cramer also made a pair of defensive gems, but it was not enough.

In Poughkeepsie, as Niagara was rooting for a Marist loss, Fairfield took a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Red Foxes, however, scored three times in the eighth and received a three-run home run and a bases-loaded walk in the ninth to earn an 8-7 win, pushing back a potential Niagara postseason berth to Saturday afternoon.

The Purple Eagles still have four chances remaining to make the MAAC Tournament, as the team will keep its eye on a pair of conference doubleheaders. Rider hosts Saint Peter's while Marist hosts Fairfield. Niagara, whose regular season is over, will advance with either one Rider loss or one Marist loss on Saturday.

Check PurpleEagles.com throughout the day to see if NU's postseason hopes are cashed in.