NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Although they got off to an early lead, the Purple Eagles dropped the final game, 14-5, in their three-game season series with Rider on Sunday.

Niagara (12-26-1, 7-8 MAAC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Michael Fuhrman singled to center field to score Greg Cullen. The Broncs (13-24, 5-7 MAAC) tied up the score, 1-1, in the top of the third.

The Purple Eagles regained their lead with a sac fly from Christian Vangeison in the bottom of the third inning to send home Cullen for his team-high second run of the game. In the top of the fourth, however, Rider tied up the score once again.

The Broncs took their first lead of the game in the fifth inning and never looked back. Niagara, however, did not back down. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Owen Dziados doubled to center field to score Hayden Coll, who was already on base, and put the score at 11-3 with the Broncs still in the lead.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Julian Gallup had an RBI single, scoring Darian Blanks. Cullen grounded out to first base to send Gallup home for the Purple Eagles' final run of the game.

Gallup and Cullen led the Purple Eagles with two hits each. Cullen also had a team-high two doubles.

The Purple Eagles are back in action on April 30- May 1, when they head to New Rochelle, N.Y. to take on the Iona Gaels.

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