NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team (11-6 MAAC) slugged its way to a doubleheader split with Manhattan (14-2 MAAC) on Saturday. The second-place Purple Eagles took the second game of the day from the first-place Jaspers, 7-4.

"I'm proud of the way we bounced back in such an important way," Niagara head coach Rob McCoy said. "That big win sets up an even bigger game on Sunday."

The Purple Eagles slugged five solo home runs in the first game, but a critical three-run home run by sophomore Brian Deering (Springfield, Va.) proved to be the difference in game two. The blast was Deering's third of the afternoon.

Manhattan 17, Niagara 6
The Purple Eagles offensive power eventually tied the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth, but an 11-run eighth inning by the No. 4 hitting team in the nation blew open a close game.

Senior backstop Matt Lucchesi (San Francisco, Calif.), playing in front of his father Stephen for the first time this season, belted a solo home run to left center to give Niagara a 1-0 lead in the second. One pitch later, Deering's first long ball of the day put the Purple Eagles ahead 2-0.

Trevor Rutkowski (Crystal Lake, Ill.) gave NU a 3-2 lead in the fourth before Deering hit a homer to straight-away center field in the fifth. Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) tied the score at 6-6 with his solo home run to lead off the sixth inning.

The Jaspers then pushed 11 runners across the plate in the eighth to take the opener, with the winning run coming on a bases-loaded bunt.

Niagara 7, Manhattan 4
Deering continued his hot hitting in the second game, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs. His three-run blast capped a pivotal fifth inning that saw NU score five runs and turn a 2-2 game into a 7-2 lead.

Graham Skelhorne-Gross (Mississauga, Ont.) singled in the first run of the inning before Rutkowski slapped a single through the left side plating another. Deering brought them all home with his third home run of the day.

Joe Candelmo (Orefield, Pa.) earned his second win of his career, tossing 5.1 innings allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out three batters. Freshman closer Adam Wagner (Defiance, Ohio) got the final five outs in an important game two to earn his fourth career save. He entered the game with the bases loaded in the eighth and escaped a jam before retiring the side in the ninth.

Deering finished the afternoon 4-for-6 with five RBIs and three runs scored, while Cramer totaled five hits in seven at bats with four RBIs.

The top two teams in the MAAC will play the rubber match of a three-game set at Sal Maglie Stadium, Sunday at noon.