LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Niagara baseball heads to New Jersey to open MAAC play against the Rider Broncs on Friday and Saturday at Sonny Pittaro Field.
 
Originally scheduled to be a Saturday-Sunday series has been moved up because of inclement weather.  The series now includes a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. 
 
The Purple Eagles (7-11, 0-0 MAAC) are looking to snap a five-game losing streak that began against Longwood.  Rider (5-13, 0-0 MAAC) is in the middle of a six-game losing streak.  The Broncs were swept by both Campbell and Winthrop before dropping a one-off with Rutgers. 
 
The Purple Eagles and the Broncs have met in the opening weekend of conference play in each of the past four seasons.  Niagara's best outing was in the 2010 season when it took two-of-three in the series.

Niagara is in a good spot offensively heading into conference play, led by Ryan McCauley who is in the top five on the team in several categories.  His .423 batting average is good for second in the MAAC, his .915 slugging percentage leads the conference, he is tied for first in hits (along with Eric Hink) with 30, and is first in both doubles (with nine) and home runs (with eight). 
 
Wynton Bernard is another Purple Eagle who has landed in the top five in numerous categories, including leading the MAAC with 14 stolen bases and ranking second in doubles with seven.

Ian Lindsay is Rider's leading threat to get on base, entering the weekend with a .327 average. while Adam Wayman leads the team with 10 RBIs.  Mike Murphy is the Bronc's ace, starting four games and posting a 1.57 ERA.