KENT, Ohio – In what is the first of two mid-week, non-conference games, the Purple Eagles dropped a 19-1 decision to the Kent State Golden Flashes on Tuesday evening.
 
Battling cold and wet weather conditions throughout the game, the Purple Eagles (12-23) scored their lone run in the sixth.  Facing a 13-0 deficit, Ryan McCauley and Greg Rodgers singled to get runners on first and second with two outs.  Kevin Paulsen followed with a sharp-hit ground ball to short that forced an error and scored McCauley.
 
Niagara was able to get runners into scoring position in the second and third innings but weren’t able to scratch another one across. 
 
Kent State (18-16) scored most of their runs between the third and fifth innings.  It was held scoreless through two but put up a pair in the second and followed it up with six- and five-run innings.  The Golden Flashes finished scoring with a two-run seventh and four in the eighth.
 
Rodgers and McCauley each finished with a pair of hits, going 2-for-3 and 2-for-4, respectively.  Anthony Caringi (0-3) started and took the loss after pitching the first three innings. 
 
The Purple Eagles and Golden Flashes are back at it tomorrow with first-pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m.