FOREST CITY, N.C. - Despite another 4-for-4 performance by second baseman Brian Deering, the Niagara baseball team (0-6) was defeated 13-2 on Sunday.

Deering had four singles in the loss and the team's lone RBI, a single down the right field line that plated Trevor Rutkowski. Overall for the season, Deering leads the team with a .556 batting average (10-for-18) in five contests.

The Purple Eagles base running produced its final run. After back-to-back walks for Matt Wietlispach and Ryan McCauley, the diamond stars alertly advanced into scoring position on an error by the Mountaineer pitcher. Later in the inning, Wietlispach stole home for the second run of the contest.

Bill Rafferty took the loss to fall to 0-2. He allowed two runs in the first inning and put zeroes on the scoreboard until the staff ran into trouble in the fifth. Nine Mountaineers came across to score in the frame on eight hits and one error.

Rafferty was touched up for six runs, five earned in 4.0 innings of work. Geoff Strong, who had put together three consecutive scoreless relief outings allowed three batters to score without producing an out.

The Purple Eagles are back in action with a pair of doubleheaders at Longwood University on March 6 & 7.