OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles fell in both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Siena Saints by final scores of 3-2 and 10-5.
 
Game One
Niagara (6-16; 0-3 MAAC) had a late-inning rally cut short in the first game of the twin-billing and ultimately fell to Siena (3-17; 3-0 MAAC) 3-2.
 
After Siena got the first run of the game with a RBI-single in the first inning, Joel Klock tied the game in the top of the third with a two-out single. Geoff Seto led the inning off with a single and got into scoring position thanks to a SAC bunt from Kevin Paulsen. Klock came to the plate one batter later and singled to center to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Saints took the lead back with a run in the third and fifth innings and had a 3-1 lead into the sixth where the Purple Eagles would start to make a move. Jordan Schwartz got on base in the top half of the inning and was brought around to score by a Taylor Hackett single up the middle and cut the deficit to one, 3-2.
 
Jacob Lysiak , who threw 2.1 innings in relief, worked out of a jam in the bottom of the inning to keep NU within striking distance as the teams went into the seventh and final inning. In almost the exact same sequence as in the top of the third inning, Seto got on base to start the seventh and was moved over from a Paulsen SAC bunt. Anthony Firenzi singled and stole second to put runners on first and second with one out, but NU was unable to score either and took the 3-2 loss.
 
Seto led the team at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance. Liam Stroud took the loss after giving up two runs on six hits through 3.2 innings.
 
Game Two
Despite a huge fourth inning to take the lead in game two, Niagara dropped the second game of the day 10-5.
 
The Purple Eagles threatened to score in the opening two innings, including a bases loaded situation in the second, but faced a 1-0 deficit heading into the fourth inning. Anthony Firenzi, Klock, and Michael Fuhrman got on base with two outs on the board. Greg Rodgers brought in the first round of runs with a two-run single to right field. Jordan Schwartz followed with a bases-clearing triple that scored Fuhrman and Rodgers. Hackett was next to the plate and collected the fifth and final run of the inning with a single through the left side and gave NU the 5-1 lead.
 
The Saints responded with runs in the fourth and fifth before turning in a five-run frame of their own in the sixth inning. NU moved runners into scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings, but was unable to cut into Siena's lead. The Saints added one more run in the bottom of the eight to build the final 10-5 lead.
 
Rodgers, Schwartz, and Hackett (Niagara's four, five, and six hitters) tied for the team lead with two hits apiece. Drew Fittry started on the mound and gave up three earned runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. Geoff Soja took the loss out of the bullpen.
 
Conference play continues next weekend for Niagara when it travels to West Long Branch, N.J. to face new MAAC-rival Monmouth. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon.