STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Niagara baseball team defeated Penn State, 4-3, on Friday, snapping a nine-game losing streak.

"We obviously pitched a lot better today," said head coach Rob McCoy. "That is something that has needed to happen. It's nice for the players to get rewarded on the scoreboard for their hard work at the process of playing the game well. Having said that, we need to continue to grind out quality at bats and limit free bases. We are getting closer to being the complete team I know we are capable of being."

Penn State (5-10) got off to an early lead and going into the top of the sixth inning, the Purple Eagles (3-15) trailed the Nittany Lions, 3-0. But Niagara's offense was undaunted. Julian Gallup led off in the sixth, followed by Geoff Seto; both got on base. With Greg Cullen at bat, Gallup stole third base and Seto stole second. Gallup then scored on a wild pitch for Niagara's first run of the game. Cullen doubled to left field, scoring Seto and putting the Purple Eagles down by only one run, 3-2. Cullen scored on a wild pitch. Taylor Hackett singled up the middle to score Joel Brophy, who was already on base, giving the Purple Eagles their first lead of the game, 4-3.

Matt McCuen faced eight batters in 1.2 innings pitched. He struck out two batters and held the Nittany Lions to only one hit, earning the save and holding Penn State scoreless in the bottom of the ninth inning.

At the plate, Seto went 3-for-5 and Hackett and Cullen had one RBI each. In the field, Brophy led Niagara with seven putouts and Cullen had a team-high three assists. On the mound, Cody Eckerson (1-2) faced 26 batters in 6.0 innings pitched and earned the win for the Purple Eagles.

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