NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara baseball fell to archrival Canisius, 15-5, in its final conference regular season game of the season.

Prior to the game, Niagara (16-30, 8-14 MAAC) honored its seven seniors on this season's team – Kevin Paulsen, Jacob Lysiak , Drew Fittry, Geoff Soja, Joel Klock, Anthony Caringi and Connor Sullivan.

Canisius (34-14, 17-4 MAAC) began the scoring in the opening inning when freshman pitcher Cody Eckerson hit Brett Siddall with the bases loaded to score one run. Though, Eckerson followed by striking out the next three batters to prevent any more runs in the inning.

NU responded in its half of the inning by taking the lead. The Purple Eagles placed the first two runners on base and Michael Fuhrman followed with a RBI single to score Anthony Firenzi from third. Two batters later, Jordan Schwartz grounded out to short to score Paulsen as Niagara took a 2-1 after one inning.

However, the Golden Griffins went back in front for good in the next inning on a pivotal two-out error. Jimmy Luppens' line drive to Eckerson was knocked down by the freshman but his throw to first base sailed into the outfield which allowed the runners on second and third to score. A RBI single by Siddall made it 4-2 after two innings.

In the third inning, Canisius scored three more runs on Eckerson before he was replaced as Canisius led 7-2 after three innings. The rest of the pitching staff didn't fare much better as a pair of four-run innings by Canisius in the fourth and sixth innings increased its lead to 15-2.

Niagara closed out the final two innings with runs. In the eighth inning, Greg Rodgers scored Paulsen from third on a fielder's choice, while Hayden Coll launched a two-run homer in the ninth inning for his second home run of the season. 

The Purple Eagles have a non-conference game at Canisius on Tuesday at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the regular season with a four-game series against NJIT at Bobo Field beginning on Friday, May 16.