NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y – The Niagara Purple Eagles fell 12-2 on Sunday to the Iona Gaels in the final home game of the 2015 season.
 
The Gaels (18-32; 9-12 MAAC) jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the top of the first. They added another in the fourth and five in the sixth to take a 10-0 lead.
 
The Purple Eagles (12-28-2; 8-13 MAAC) got on the board in the sixth with back-to-back doubles from Michael Fuhrman and Anthony Firenzi. Thomas Rodrigues collected an RBI in the bottom of the seventh then his double brought Tanner Kirwer home and made it a 10-2 game.
 
Iona scored another pair of runs on two hits in the top of the eighth to take its final 12-2 lead. Liam Stroud took the loss on the mound for Niagara. Firenzi went 2-for-4 with a RBI while Rodrigues went 1-for-4 with a RBI.
 
Sunday's game featured a pregame ceremony to honor the two graduating seniors on the roster. Firenzi, a team captain, has set career-highs and leads the team this season with 14 doubles, 5 homeruns, and 20 extra-base hits. Last year he was named to the All-MAAC Second Team after hitting .311 in conference games. Rodrigues has been a captain for the last two seasons, has set career-highs this season with a .316 batting average, 9 doubles, 3 homeruns, 29 RBI's, and 11 stolen bases.
 
The Purple Eagles are back on the mound on Tuesday for their final non-conference action of the year. They travel to Amherst, New York to play the State University of New York at Buffalo Bulls in a pair of seven-inning games.
 
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