BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team's ninth inning rally fell short in a rivalry contest at Buffalo on Wednesday, 8-6. The Purple Eagles scored three times in the top of the ninth, but came up just short.

Senior Matt Wietlispach went 2-for-4 on the afternoon, scoring twice and knocking in three more, including a ninth-inning home run to left field. The long ball was his team-best fifth of the season.

Sophomore outfielders Stephen Smith and Adam Wagner each added two hits in the loss, both scoring a run.

UB took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on a pair of solo home runs of rookie Kody Kasper. The right hander gave up five runs, three earned, on eight hits in five innings of work.

Niagara inched closer at 3-2 with a two-spot in the top of the fourth. Wietlispach doubled and Smith singled to start the frame. Wietlispach scored on Smith's stolen base attempt after the UB catcher's throw sailed into centerfield. Smith scored on freshman Ryan McCauley's RBI groundout.

UB scored five more runs in the next four innings, before the NU rally came up short.

The Purple Eagles head back into MAAC action with a three-game set at Siena. Friday's doubleheader starts at noon. Follow all the action via live stats or live video by clicking here.