JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Niagara baseball team swept a doubleheader with Saint Peter's on Saturday, earning two of its biggest wins of the season so far.

The Purple Eagles' 4-1 conference start is the best start they have had in MAAC play since 2006, when they also went 4-1 to open conference play.

"Everything came together today," said Purple Eagles' head coach Rob McCoy. "We played well in all phases of the game. Win, lose or tie, we have to have a short memory about today and get mentally and physically ready for tomorrow."

Game 1: Niagara 21, Saint Peter's 2
The Purple Eagles (8-18-1, 4-1 MAAC) got off to a quick offensive start. In the top of the first inning, Tanner Kirwer scored Niagara's first run after stealing third base and scoring on a throwing error by the catcher.

Niagara kept the Peacocks (4-17, 0-5 MAAC) scoreless through the first three innings of the game and going into the bottom of the third, the Purple Eagles were ahead of Saint Peter's, 10-0. Saint Peter's got on the board with one run in the bottom of the third to put the score at 10-1.

In the top of the fifth and sixth innings, the Purple Eagles showed off their prowess at the plate. In the fifth, with Mark Meisner and Christian Vangeison already on base, Julian Gallup went yard to give Niagara a 13-1 lead over the Peacocks. Scores from Kirwer and Greg Cullen extended Niagara's lead, 15-1. In the top of the sixth, Kirwer homered to left field, sending home Gallup and Vangeison and putting the Purple Eagles up, 18-1.

Saint Peter's scored once more in the bottom of the seventh, but were not able to catch the Purple Eagles, who walked away with their biggest win of the season so far.

Kirwer went 3-for-4 at the plate and Gallup went 2-for-2; each had four runs and five RBIs. Joel Brophy and Vangeison each scored three runs; Brophy also had two RBIs. In the field, Vangeison led the Purple Eagles with 10 putouts. Cody Eckerson (3-2) faced 25 batters in 5.1 innings pitched, striking out five, and earned the win.

Game 2: Niagara 13, Saint Peter's 0
The Purple Eagles earned their first shutout of the season in the second game of their doubleheader with Saint Peter's, holding the Peacocks scoreless through all seven innings of the game.

Greg Rodgers and Vangeison had three runs each. Rodgers went 2-for-5 at the plate and Vangeison went 1-for-1. Michael Fuhrman, Owen Dziados and Geoff Seto each added two runs for the Purple Eagles. Kirwer and Dziados led Niagara with four RBIs each.

In the field, Seto led the Purple Eagles with nine putouts and Cullen had a team-high four assists. On the mound, Daniel Procopio (1-3) faced 20 batters in 5.0 innings pitched and earned his first win of the season.

The Purple Eagles close out their three-game series with Saint Peter's on Sunday, April 3.

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