LAWRENCEVILLE N.J. - The Niagara basbeall team  (5-17, 1-1 MAAC) won game two of its first conference doubleheader of the season to earn a Saturday split at Rider (10-9, 1-1 MAAC). The Purple Eagles scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch in extra innings to win the night cap 4-3.

"After a tough loss in the first game, we showed a ton of grit and fight in winning the second," Niagara head coach Rob McCoy said. "This team never gives up, which will always give us a chance to win. Tomorrow is a big day, and these men will be ready to play."

Niagara 4, Rider 3
Freshman Ryan McCauley scored on a Rider wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning to regain the lead for Niagara. He singled to center field with one out to start the extra inning, finishing the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Senior reliever Dennis Chachko induced a bases-loaded double play to the first batter he faced in the bottom of the seventh, and didn't allow a hit in the bottom of the eighth to earn his first win of the season.

Freshman right-hander Tyler Scott pitched brilliantly in his first conference start, scattering three runs in 6.1 innings of work. He allowed two runs in the first inning on three-straight hits, then settled down, allowing just four hits after that. The tying run, which was credited to Scott, scored when Mason Heyne doubled off reliever Geoff Strong in the seventh, but Chachko came in and helped force extras.

Freshman backstop Wes Walker had a pair of hits, including a 2-run double in the fourth inning. The Purple Eagles scored in the top of the first when Matt Wietlispach singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on an RBI-groundout.

Rider 12, Niagara 3
The Purple Eagles were unable to build off of a 3-0 lead, dropping game one of the doubleheader. Senior Jason Cramer put NU on the board with a 2-run single, and the shortstop came around to score on classmate Timothy Cozier's RBI base hit.

Senior Daniel Morari fell to 1-5 on the season, allowing six runs, all earned, on 10 hits in six innings. He struck out five, but walked three and totaled four wild pitches on the afternoon. Freshman Kody Kasper allowed six runs, four earned, in two innings of relief.

Cozier, Wietlispach and Cam Stykemain each totaled two hits in the loss.

The two teams will meet on the diamond on Sunday for the rubber match at noon. Follow the action via live stats by clicking here.