NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles took both a quick game one and a marathon game two to sweep the opening doubleheader against the NJIT Highlanders at Bobo Field.
 
Game One
Jordan Schwartz was efficient in a complete-game effort and the Purple Eagles (18-31) provided enough run support to take the series opener 3-1.
 
Schwartz went the distance, throwing all seven innings while giving up one run on four hits and racking up nine strikeouts, with the lone run came in the seventh inning with NU holding a 3-0 lead. With his seven innings pitched, the junior set a new program record with 95.1 innings pitched this season.
 
A pair of two-out RBI singles gave Niagara a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Jacob Lysiak got the scoring started with a single through the right side that brought around Mark Meisner. Lysiak, who normally comes out of the bullpen, started the game in right field and finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, the RBI, and a run scored. Anthony Firenzi followed up with a single to left field that scored Geoff Seto.
 
Niagara extended its lead in the fourth when a Greg Rodgers single scored Lysiak to make the lead 3-0.
 
NJIT scored in the top of the seventh with a solo-homerun to cut the lead to two, but could not get any closer as Schwartz was able to get a swinging strikeout to end the game.  Schwartz earned the win and Lysiak, Rodgers, and Schwartz all went 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
Game Two
Niagara took an early lead before having to rally late on the way to a 5-4 win in the second game of the twin billing. 
 
The game got started in the right direction as Firenzi led off the game with a walk and then stole second to get into scoring position. Michael Fuhrman singled home the opening run and before Robert Hansen and Joel Brophy both drew bases-loaded walks to give NU a 3-0 lead.
 
With a run in the third and another three in the fifth, the Highlanders were able to take a 4-3 lead, but it wouldn't last long. Joel Klock led off the home-half of the fifth with a single, he then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and took third on a wild pitch. Hansen was then able to tie the game at 4-4 with a single to left.
 
The score remained tied as the game headed into extra innings. It was finally in the bottom of the ninth that the Purple and White were able to break through. Niagara loaded the bases with a walk from Fuhrman, a single from Rodgers, and Klock wearing a pitch inside. Schwartz, who was intentionally walked with a runner in scoring position back in the seventh, stood in and sent a single to center field to win the game 5-4.
 
Rodgers again went 2-for-3 at the plate and Hansen's two RBIs were a game high. Cody Eckerson started the game on the mound and settled for a no decision after throwing 4.2 innings and giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits and two strikeouts. Geoff Soja got the win out of the bullpen after no-hitting the Highlanders through 4.1 innings.
 
These teams meet again tomorrow for another doubleheader at Bobo Field. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.