EASTON, Pa. - The Niagara baseball team was again bitten by the walk-off bug on Sunday, dropping the finale of a three game set at Lafayette, 8-7, in 10 innings. The opposition has defeated NU in its final at bat in three of the past four games.

The Purple Eagles scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings, before taking a 7-5 lead in the 10th inning. But after senior Dennis Chachko pitched two scoreless innings of relief, sophomore Adam Wagner blew his first save of the season, allowing three runs in the bottom of the 10th.

Prior to the 10th inning, Wagner was the offensive star for the Purple Eagles, knocking in a career-high three runs. He was also hit by a pitch in the top of the 10th, stole second base and scored the go ahead run on senior Matt Wietlispach's single.

Trailing 5-3 in the ninth inning, Wietlispach and junior Cam Stykemain collected back-to-back one-out singles, with Wietlispach advancing to third on the second hit of the frame. He scored on a wild pitch, making the score 5-4. Consecutive walks loaded the bases and brought Jason Cramer to the plate. The senior infielder beat out the relay throw of what would have been a game-ending double play, and Stykemain scored to force extra innings.

After Chachko pitched a perfect ninth inning, the Purple Eagles rallied for two runs in the 10th inning, all with two outs. Wagner was hit to start the frame. After his 16th stolen base of the season, he scampered home on Wietlispach's third hit of the game. Wietlispach stole his team-best 19th bag of the season to get into scoring position and scored on Stykemain's single to right field to take a 7-5 lead.

The Leopards started the 10th with a double and a single sandwiched around a Wagner strikeout. Back-to-back RBI-singles tied the game before a sacrifice fly to left field plated the winning run.

Senior Bill Rafferty started the contest and allowed four earned runs in seven innings. He struck out four and walked just one batter in the no decision.

Wietlispach's three-hit performance highlighted five players with multiple hits. Wagner had two run-scoring hits, an RBI single in the second and a two-run single in the fourth. Stykemain, Cramer and junior Brian Deering also had a pair of hits. Stykemain added three stole bases in the loss.

The Purple Eagles return home for their final two MAAC series, looking to get back into the playoff picture. NU currently sits in fifth place at 9-9. Saturday's series against Saint Peter's starts at noon, and the season-ending series with Canisius begins on May 20.