NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles started a rally in the bottom of the ninth, but came up just short as the series against the Quinnipiac Bobcats came to a close with a 4-3 loss.
 
Quinnipiac (7-16; 4-3 MAAC) scored two in the top half of the ninth on a rollers down the third base line that was ruled to have stayed fair and took a 4-2 lead into the bottom half of the frame.  Niagara (8-18; 2-5 MAAC) put runners on first and third with one out in its half of the ninth for Anthony Firenzi.  The Freshman brought Taylor Hackett around for his eighth RBI of the season and cut the deficit to a single run, 4-3. That, however, is where the rally would end as the Bobcats were able to force a popup to end the game.
 
It was the Purple Eagles who opened the scoring in the first inning when Greg Rodgers collected his team-high 18^th RBI with a single through the left side. NU took the lead again in the third after QU was able to tie the game in the top of the second. Firenzi scored from second on a Michael Fuhrman single to left to give the Purple and White a 2-1 lead.
 
A two-out RBI single in the fourth tied the game at 2-2, where the score would remain until the top of the ninth.
 
Fuhrman went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a walk. Firenzi's 1-for-4 performance stretched his hitting streak to 12 games. Freshman Liam Stroud started on the mound for the Purple and White; the righty went a complete six innings and gave up two runs on four hits. Geoff Soja took the loss out of the bullpen.
 
Niagara is back on the field tomorrow when it hosts the St. Bonaventure Bonnies for a doubleheader at Bobo Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.