MANHATTAN, KS. – The Niagara baseball team dropped the first game in its series against Kansas State by a 10-2 score on Tuesday afternoon.
 
After a scoreless first, Kansas State (7-3) scored three runs in the second inning and two in the third to take a 5-0 lead.  Niagara (3-8) moved a runner into scoring position in each of the second and third, as Christian Vangeison doubled in the second and Kevin Paulsen walked and advanced on a wild pitch in the third, but weren’t able to bring either around.
 
Facing a six-run deficit heading into the sixth, the Purple Eagles got on the board with two-consecutive singles to open the inning.  Thomas Rodrigues collected one of his two hits on the afternoon with a base-knock to leftfield and was brought around by a Paulsen single to right. 
 
The same combo would team-up again to score NU’s run in the eighth.  Rodrigues hit a two-out single to first and Paulsen doubled down the right field line for his second RBI to make it a 10-2 game.
 
Both Paulsen and Rodrigues finished 2-for-3 at the plate, with the former adding a walk and two RBIs.  Kyle Olver (1-1) started the game and went six innings giving up seven runs on seven hits for the loss. 
 
Niagara is back on the diamond to face Wildcats tomorrow at 4 p.m.