Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Despite 25 hits over the two games on Saturday afternoon, the Purple Eagles were topped in both games of their doubleheader against the Rider Broncs at Sonny Pitaro Field, 3-2 and 9-4. 
 
“We had a tough day today,” head coach Rob McCoy said.  “We didn’t do the little things well, like executing bunts, scoring runners from third, making routine plays, and pitching ahead in the count.  The good news is keep finding out about what kind of team we are and what we really need to work on.”
 
Game One
The Purple Eagles outhit the Broncs in the opening game of the double billing but dropped the close game 3-2 in a marathon three and a half-hour, 13-inning matchup on Saturday morning.
 
Drew Fittry started the game on the mound for the Purple Eagles (8-13, 1-2 MAAC) and threw the first 4.1 innings giving up two runs on four hits while striking out four. 
 
“Our pitching in game one was just what we needed,” said McCoy.  “Anytime you hold a team to less than three earned runs, you should win.”
 
The Broncs (7-14, 2-1 MAAC) took the first lead of the game in the first with an RBI groundout to go up 1-0.  A RBI single in the fifth extended their lead to 2-0.
 
After getting six hits through six innings, Niagara came back to tie the game with a three-hit seventh.  Adam Wagner led things off reaching base on a wild pitch third strike.  From there the Purple Eagles went on to hit three-straight singles, the last of which came from Joel Klock and drove in two runs to knot things up at 2-2.
 
The bullpen trio of Geoff Soja, Tyler Spear, and Jordan Schwartz combined to hold Rider to two hits from the time the Purple Eagles tied the game in the seventh through the 12^th inning but the Broncs were able to get a lead-off double and a pair of bunt singles in the 13^th inning on their way to the winning run and come away with the 3-2 win.
 
Eric Hink, Jon Wilson, and Klock tied with a game-high three hits each while Klock led the way in RBIs with two.      
 
Game Two
The teams traded runs in the beginning of the game.  Niagara got the jump on Rider hitting three-consecutive singles set up Ryan McCauley for a sacrifice fly that scored Wynton Bernard and gave the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead in the first.  Rider responded in the second with a leadoff single followed by a RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Niagara took the lead back in its half of the fifth.  Wagner collected his third hit of the day with an RBI single down the right field line to start the scoring.  After a fielding error that put Hink on base and advanced Wagner to second, Klock sent a double down the leftfield line to score two more runs and give Niagara a 4-1 lead.
 
The Broncs responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-RBI single and tied the game at 4-4 on a fielding error.  Niagara threatened in the top of the next inning, loading the bases with only one out, but couldn’t get a run across.
 
Rider took the final lead of the day in the sixth.  With a man on and two outs on the board, a RBI double gave the Broncs a 5-4 lead.  They extended their lead to five runs with a pair of doubles and a RBI single to rightfield to go up 9-4.
 
“When you don’t do the little things right, you won’t often win,” McCoy said.  “This team is determined to be good and will keep working.”
 
The Purple Eagles threatened a few times down the stretch, having runners on second and third with one out in the seventh and the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth, but weren’t able to bring home another run as they fell in game two by a score of 9-4.

Hink had a game-high three hits for the Purple Eagles and Klock led the team with two RBIs.  Matt Munson recieved the loss coming out of the bullpen, giving up three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings.
 
Niagara is back in action next weekend for its home opener against Marist on Saturday and Sunday at Sal Maglie Stadium.  Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 12 p.m.