DURHAM, N.C. - The Purple Eagles baseball team dropped both games in a doubleheader at North Carolina Central on Saturday.

"We didn't play well again today," said head coach Rob McCoy. "As we continue to work through a culture change and work on our mental game, there will be some ups and downs. Playing the game one pitch at a time and not letting the score or the situation dictate our mentality isn't easy, but we'll get there by the time conference play rolls around. These guys keep fighting and want to improve."

Game 1: Niagara 10, N.C. Central 13
In the top of the first inning, with Greg Cullen already on base, Michael Fuhrman hit a homerun down the left field line, giving Niagara (1-6) a 2-0 lead. In the top of the third, Fuhrman doubled, scoring Tanner Kirwer. Taylor Hackett homered to right center, also sending home Greg Rodgers and Fuhrman, who were both already on base. The Purple Eagles had a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the third inning.

N.C. Central (3-3) quickly came back and going into the top of the fifth inning, the score was tied, 6-6. In the top of the fifth, a Rodgers single sent home Cullen, putting the Purple Eagles back in the lead, 7-6. Joel Brophy then doubled to left center, scoring Rodgers and Fuhrman and earning two RBIs. Darian Blanks scored Niagara's final run in the top of the sixth inning after a Rodgers single sent him home.

Fuhrman went 2-for-3 at the plate and had a team-high three runs and three RBIs. Taylor Hackett also had three RBIs. Pitcher Michael Bucci took the loss for the Purple Eagles.

Game 2: Niagara 6, N.C. Central 10
In the top of the first inning, Niagara got off to a 2-0 lead after runs from Cullen and Geoff Seto. The Purple Eagles went scoreless until the top of the seventh inning. With Blanks already on base, Mark Meisner hit a homerun to left field to put Niagara down by only six runs, 10-4. Julian Gallup tripled to left center to score Nick Bernick. Gallup scored Niagara's final run after Cullen flied out to infield.

Meisner had a team-high two RBIs. In the field, Fuhrman had six putouts and one assist. Daniel Procopio pitched 1.1 innings and took the loss.

Niagara closes out their four-game series with N.C. Central on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1:00 p.m.

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