LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – A two-run comeback in the ninth inning gave the Niagara Purple Eagles a 7-6 win over the Rider Broncs in a back-and-forth game on Friday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.
 
With Niagara (11-21; 4-7 MAAC) facing a 6-5 deficit heading into the top half of the ninth, Michael Fuhrman led off with a double to right center to put the tying run in scoring position. Greg Rodgers moved the leadoff hitter to third with a sac bunt and heads-up base running tied the game as Fuhrman crossed the plate on a passed ball. Joel Klock, who had already contributed a pair of  RBIs earlier in the game, drew a walk to set the table for Pavel Chavez-Rusova to bring home the game winning run. The sophomore catcher singled to right field for his 11^th RBI of the season and gave his team the 7-6 lead.
 
"We played hard all day," head coach Rob McCoy said. "It was a good team win. When some guys had letdowns, other guys picked them up."
 
Kevin Lucas came out of the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the ninth and gave up one hit to the Broncs (10-21; 3-5 MAAC) in the scoreless half-inning to earn the first save of his collegiate career.
 
"I thought we pitched pretty well today and need to follow that up with two good starts tomorrow," said McCoy.
 
Jordan Schwartz started on the bump for the Purple and White and threw 6.2 innings giving up four runs, only two earned, on four hits and struck out nine. Jacob Lysiak earned his first win of the season after pitching 1.1 innings in relief. The righty gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits and struck out three.
 
The game seesawed from the start with a total of four lead changed by the end of the contest; each time one team took the lead, the other responded almost immediately. Klock collected a game-high two RBIs. The first with a RBI single to right center that gave NU the 1-0 lead in the opening frame. The second came in the fourth when a sac-fly extended Niagara's lead to 5-3.  Both Anthony Firenzi and Taylor Hackett went 2-for-4 with a walk at the plate.
 
These two teams play a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch for the seven-inning opener is scheduled for noon.