NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles fell to Canisius, 9-4, on Friday in their final game of the 2016 season.

Canisius (30-25, 16-8 MAAC) led Niagara (16-37-1, 11-13 MAAC) 5-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning. The Purple Eagles, however, were persistent on offense. With Greg Cullen and Michael Fuhrman on base, Christian Vangeison tripled to right center, the first triple of his career, to score Cullen and Fuhrman and put the score at 5-2. Owen Dziados flied out to left field to send home Vangeison. With Hayden Coll and Joel Brophy on base, Tyler Lau singled through the right side, scoring Brophy for the Purple Eagles' final run of the 2016 season.

Vangeison and Coll led the Purple Eagles at the plate with a team-high two hits each. Vangeison also had a team-high two RBIs and one double. Dziados and Lau each recorded one RBI and Fuhrman and Cullen each had one stolen base. On the mound, Tyler Howard (1-2) struck out three batters in his 3.2 innings pitched.

Prior to the game, Niagara honored its seven graduating seniors: Taylor Hackett, Lau, Mark Meisner, Fuhrman, Ben Zaccagnino, Coll and Vangeison; all seven got a chance to play in their final game at Bobo Field.

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