COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Purple Eagles won their first game of the season behind solid defense and a strong start from Kyle Olver with a 4-2 victory in 10 innings over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Friday afternoon.
 
“I’m proud of the way our guys played today,” head coach Rob McCoy said.  “Kyle gave us an unbelievable outing and we played great defense.  Their guy was good, but we strung solid at bats together and scratched a few across for the win.  Tomorrow is another day.”
 
Niagara (1-4) took the first lead of the afternoon as freshman Greg Rodgers led off the third inning with his first NCAA homerun.  The third baseman also showed patience as he drew a pair of walks later in the game.  Tennessee Tech tied the game in the sixth but the Purple Eagles took the lead back immediately thanks to another leadoff long ball.  This time Ryan McCauley gave his team a 2-1 lead and now has two homeruns for the year. 
 
A wild pitch allowed the Golden Eagles to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom half of the seventh, but that was the last run they would bring across the plate.  In the top of the tenth Pavel Chavez-Rusova doubled to score Rodgers before also scoring on a Kevin Paulsen sacrifice fly that gave NU a two-run lead.  Jordan Schwartz came out of the pen and blanked the Golden Eagles to get the save cement the 4-2 victory.
 
Oliver (1-0), who took the mound in his first collegiate start, scattered four hits and two runs through nine innings.  The righty from Vancouver, B.C. walked three while striking out six.  Both McCauley and Rodgers hit .500 at the plate with a round-tripper.  The senior went 2-for-4 while the freshman finished 1-for-2. 
 
The Purple Eagles and Golden Eagles are back on the mound tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.  Niagara is expected to start Jim Fort (0-1) against David Hess, who pitched to a no decision in his first start of the year.