NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The bottom half of the Niagara lineup propelled the Purple Eagles to a Sunday MAAC win against Fairfield, 13-5. The No. 6-9 batters in the lineup went a combined 13-for-19 with eight runs and 10 RBIs in the win.

The Purple Eagles fell behind 2-0 in the first inning but slowly worked their way to a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning with one run apiece in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. The bottom four batters in the NU starting lineup then put the game away down the stretch and Niagara sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth inning.

Senior Timothy Cozier went 4-for-5 with four RBIs while scoring three times. His two-run double to right center in the sixth inning broke the game wide open. Freshman Evan Wexler also knocked in four runs, including belting his first career home run in the seventh.

No. 6 hitter junior Brian Deering went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and knocked in pair more in the win, while No. 9 hitter Adam Wagner continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases. Deering's RBI-double in the sixth was the go-ahead run for Niagara.

Senior Bill Rafferty was the benificiary of the run support. He earned his third MAAC win of the season, limiting the Stags to just three hits in six innings. He did allow four runs, two earned, in the win. Senior Dennis Chachko came in relief and struck out the first five batters he faced.

The Purple Eagles (9-6) hit the road for a pivotal MAAC series against Manhattan (7-5) on Saturday.