POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles rallied to win both games of Saturday's doubleheader, 10-5 and 8-6, against the Marist Red Foxes at McCann Field.
 
Game One
The Purple Eagles (8-17-2; 5-3 MAAC) found themselves down 3-0 after three innings, but rallied with 10 runs down the stretch to top the Red Foxes (8-16; 3-5 MAAC) in the first game of the weekend.
 
Niagara got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Michael Fuhrman led off the frame with a single before advancing to second base on a balk. Thomas Rodrigues hit a sac fly to centerfield to advance Fuhrman to third base. Two batters later, Joel Brophy stepped to the plate and brought Fuhrman around to score with a sacrifice fly to left field and brought the score to 3-1.
 
After holding Marist scoreless in the bottom of the frame, the Purple Eagles put four runs on the board in the top of the fifth. Taylor Hackett singled up the middle to start the NU half of the fourth. Tanner Kirwer was hit by a pitch to put Niagara's first two batters on base. After Owen Dziados reached safely on a bunt to load the bases, Fuhrman doubled down the left field line to bring both Hackett and Kirwer around to score and advance Dziados to third. Rodrigues then brought Dziados home on a ground out to first before Anthony Firenzi brought Fuhrman home with a ball hit to the shortstop to put NU in front, 5-3.
 
Niagara extended its lead in the top of the seventh. Kirwer led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a Dziados pop-out. Fuhrman walked and Rodrigues was hit by a pitch to again load the bases with one out. Firenzi drove Kirwer in with a single and Brophy followed with a single to left field that brought home Fuhrman and Rodrigues to give the Purple Eagles an 8-3 lead.
 
Two runs on two hits the top of the eighth gave the Purple Eagles even more breathing room. Kirwer drew a walk and Dziados singled to third to put two on with two out. Both advanced on a wild pitch and then scored on a throwing error to give NU the 10-3 lead. Marist plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth but it would not be enough as the Purple Eagles took game one 10-5.
 
Zachary Kolodziejski got the start and went 7.1 innings while giving up five hits and two earned runs for his fifth consecutive win. Michael Bucci got one out in the eighth before Matt McCuen brought it home with just one hit surrendered through the final four outs.
 
Kirwer, Dziados, and Fuhrman led the way on offense with three hits apiece.
 
Game Two
The Purple Eagles again found themselves down early, but Hackett went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored as Niagara roared back late to take game two by a score of 8-6.

Down 2-0 after four, Trevor McCauley led off the top of the fifth with a single to left field. Hackett followed with a single up the middle and gave Niagara runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Rodrigues hit a two-out double down the right-field line to bring home both runners. Fuhrman then singled through the right side to bring Rodrigues around to score and give the Purple Eagles a 3-2 lead.

After Marist tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth, Niagara broke the game open with five runs in the top of the sixth. Christian Vangeison led off the inning with a double down the right-field line. Then, with one out, McCauley was hit bit a pitch and Dziados walked to load the bases for the Purple Eagles.
 
Hackett doubled down the right field line to score Julian Gallup, who entered the game as a pinch runner for Vangeison, and McCauley while also advancing Dziados to third. Kirwer followed suit with a single up the middle that knocked in both Dziados and Hackett. Rodrigues rounded out the scoring with a single up the middle that brought Kirwer home and gave Niagara an 8-3 lead.

Marist scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it a two-run ballgame, but that was as close as they would get as Daniel Procopio retired the side in order in the seventh to give Niagara the 8-6 win.

Ben Zaccagnino stated on the mound but took a no decision after giving up three earned runs on seven hits through the opening 4.1 innings. Matt McCuen earned the first win of his career after he registered the final out in the fifth inning.

The Purple Eagles will go for the sweep tomorrow when they take on the Red Foxes in final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for noon.  

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