NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles play in Western New York after starting the season with 23 games on the road when they host the Manhattan Jaspers on Friday and Saturday on campus at Bobo Field.
 
The Purple Eagles (4-19, 0-3 MAAC) enter the weekend third in the MAAC in runs scored with 93, two short of second.  Their 171 hits is second in the conference, they are fourth in RBIs with 78, third in doubles with 30, and fourth in round-trippers with nine on the year. 
 
Ryan McCauley, who enters the second weekend of conference play third on the team with a .267 batting average, is fourth in the conference in runs scored. The senior first baseman also leads the squad in homeruns (three) and total bases (34).  Jim Fort (1-3) and Kyle Olver (1-4) lead the Niagara rotation with a combined 11 starts.  Olver leads Niagara’s pitchers in strikeouts with 26.
 
The Jaspers (10-10, 3-0 MAAC) enter the series winners in four of their last five contests, including a sweep of the Iona Gaels in three-straight games.  Ramon Ortega leads all players with more than two appearances with a .310 average, seven extra base hits, and 14 RBIs in 19 games this season. Michael Martin (0-1) leads the Manhattan rotation with a 3.19 ERA in six appearances (four starts).  

Friday's game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. and first pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for noon.