NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The Niagara baseball team's season-high five-game win streak came to an end with a 10-3 loss to Youngstown State in its home opener on Tuesday. The Purple Eagles took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning, but allowed back-to-back four-run innings down the stretch in the loss.

Junior infielder/pitcher Brian Deering received his first career start on the mound, and pitched brilliantly through the first five frames, but ran into trouble in the top of the sixth. After allowing two unearned runs on just two hits through five, the Penguins scratched four runs across in the top of the sixth.

A nifty 1-2-3 double play on a suicide squeeze bunt got Niagara out of the jam, but Youngstown scored four more times in the next inning, as the same four Penguins crossed the plate.

Niagara took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning. Ryan McCauley lined a single to left field and Jason Cramer sent a laser to right field, and both runners advanced on a fielding error by the right fielder. McCauley scored on Wes Walker's RBI fielder's choice and Cramer came across on a throwing error by the catcher on a steal attempt. Walker scored on leadoff hitter Matt Wietlispach's sacrifice fly.

Deering finished the day  after 5.1 innings, allowing six runs, three earned, while striking out five. He allowed just five hits, but walked five batters.

Trevor Rutkowski had a pair of line-drive singles to center field, while right fielder Adam Wagner had a bunt single and aline drive single to left field. Wagner also stole a pair of bases on the afternoon.

Niagara returns to the diamond on Wednesday with a rivalry contest against Buffalo at Sal Maglie Stadium at 3 p.m.