NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles won their home opener 4-1 in the front half of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Bobo Field.
 
Game One
Zachary Kolodziejski won his third-consecutive start and Thomas Rodrigues went 2-for-4 with a RBI as the Purple Eagles (6-15-1; 3-2 MAAC) took game one by a 4-1 score to open the series.
 
Niagara scored each of its four runs in the third and fourth innings. A three-run third inning opened with a double to left-center field from Taylor Hackett. Tanner Kirwer moved the runner to third and reached first with a perfect bunt that sat in front of the plate. With two on and no one out, Owen Dziados brought Hackett home and moved Kirwer into scoring positon with a deep sacrifice fly to right field. Michael Fuhrman drew a walk and Kirwer stole third to again put two on base. Rodrigues picked up his RBI with a single to right field before Anthony Firenzi plated Fuhrman with a double to center field to give NU the 3-0 lead.
 
Nick Bernick went station-to-station almost on his own to give NU an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. He drew a walk to get on base, stole second, then took third on a passed ball to get 90 feet away from home plate. Kirwer brought him home with a bunt to give the home team a 4-0 lead.
 
Kolodziejski burned through the first six innings as he kept the Saints (5-15; 2-3 MAAC) off of the board and off balance. He retired the side in order in the first, fifth, and sixth innings. He was a throwing error away from doing the same in the third. He faced 22 batters through the first six innings before he was pulled in the eighth after giving up a pair of singles. He was on the hook for lone Siena run to finish one run on five hits with four strikeouts through 7.1 innings pitched.
 
Kevin Lucas gave up one hit as he closed out the eighth. Daniel Procopio earned his third save of the year after he pitched a scoreless ninth.
 
Game Two
The Saints rebounded in the second game of the afternoon as they opened the scoring with one run on two hits in the top of the first. They added four runs on three hits in the third and another two in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead.
 
Rodrigues opened the home-half of the fourth with a double to right-center field and was brought around two batters later when Joel Brophy grounded out to the shortstop. The Saints added another run in their half of the fifth to take an 8-1 lead.
 
Niagara scratched across a run in its half of the sixth after Dziados opened the frame with a single to right, moved to second on a groundout, then advanced to third and came home on wild pitches to bring the score to its 8-2 final.
 
Dziados finished 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the team on offense. Ben Zaccagnino took the loss on the mound after the righty pitched the first 2.1 innings.
 
These two teams meet again tomorrow for the rubber match of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and @NiagaraBASE. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.