BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Purple Eagles dropped their doubleheader against the Sacred Heart Pioneers with 18-2 and 5-1 losses on Thursday afternoon. 
 
Game One
Niagara (16-37) fell behind early as Sacred Heart (31-31) put up five runs in the opening frame.  The Purple Eagles got on the board in the third as Ryan McCauley and Jordan Schwartz brought in runs to cut the deficit to 7-2 but the Pioneers scored another eight runs over the next three innings before they added three more in the seventh to complete the 18-2 win.
 
Schwartz (3-7) took the loss after he gave up eight earned runs (12 total) on eight hits; the sophomore also 2-for-3 day at the plate with a walk and a RBI.  Connor Sullivan came out of the pen to throw a hitless eighth. 
 
Game Two
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Pioneers strike first, this time with three runs in the second and one in the third.  The visitors scratched across a run in the fourth, as Christian Vangeison forced a bad throw as he stole third base and came home to bring NU within 4-1.  A Sacred Heart run in the bottom half of the frame ended the scoring as it took the contest 5-1.
 
Anthony Caringi (2-4) got the start and took the loss after throwing for five innings and giving up five runs on nine hits.  Jacob Lysiak  threw a shutout sixth in relief.  Thomas Rodrigues led the team on offense with a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
 
Niagara brings the 2013 season to a close when these two teams meet again tomorrow at noon.