JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Nine innings of shutout baseball from Liam Stroud and Cody Eckerson helped NU to a 3-0 win in game two of Sunday's doubleheader at Jaroschak Field to take the opening MAAC series against Saint Peter's.
 
Game One
Saint Peter's (2-14; 2-4 MAAC) scored five runs, only two of which were earned, between the second and third innings to take a 5-0 lead, but Niagara (5-14-1; 2-1 MAAC) hung a four spot in the bottom of the fourth to climb back into the game.
 
Trevor McCauley opened the inning with a walk and stole second to move into scoring position for Joel Brophy. The catcher doubled home the first run of the frame and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher on a Geoff Seto sacrifice bunt. Owen Dziados and Michael Fuhrman hit back-to-back RBI singles to get their team within a run, 5-4, heading into the fifth inning.
 
The Peacocks scored an insurance run in their half of the fifth and kept the Purple Eagles off of the board through the final three innings to come away with the 6-4 win.
 
Ben Zaccagnino took the loss after giving up six runs, three earned, on six hits in 4.2 innings. Michael Bucci was first out of the bullpen and finished the fifth inning while Daniel Procopio gave up one hit through the final two full innings.
 
Game Two
The Purple Eagles scored three runs on five hits while the sophomore duo of Stroud and Eckerson kept the Peacocks off of the board as NU took the rubber match 3-0.
 
Stroud earned the win after the he pitched five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and only five hits surrendered. Eckerson got the save after pitching the last four innings. He also struck out five while giving up just three hits.
 
Niagara got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as Tanner Kirwer helped manufacture the first run of the game. With two outs already on the board, Kirwer put down a bunt single to get on base and stole second to get into scoring position. Dziados followed up with a single down the right-field line for his fifth RBI of the year.
 
Fuhrman brought home two more runs in the fifth to give Niagara a 3-0 lead when he doubled to right-center field with two on and two out in the inning. Those two RBIs give him 11 on the season and put him one shy of the team lead.
 
The Purple Eagles are back on the mound next weekend on Friday and Saturday when they take on the Siena Saints for a three game series. A doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday with a single game on Saturday at noon.
 
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