LOUDONVILLE, NY – Niagara scored all nine of its runs over the final three innings as the Purple Eagles overcame a late four-run deficit to defeat Siena Baseball 9-7 in the series finale at Connors Park. Alex Milone registered a pair of hits and RBI to lead the Saints.
 
Siena (17-30, 11-10) had built a 4-0 lead heading into the seventh inning as they looked to close out the series sweep. But Niagara (14-31, 8-13) batted around sending 11 men to the plate in the top of the seventh. The Purple Eagles scored six runs punctuated by a three-run home run by Matthew Grace and a go-ahead two-run double from starting pitcher Jacob Bruning to claim a 6-4 lead.
 
The Saints took advantage of three throwing errors in the home half of the seventh to scratch across a trio of unearned runs to reclaim a 7-6 advantage. Milone tied the game with an RBI single, while Craig Corliss followed later in the frame with the go-ahead run-scoring base hit.
 
However the Purple Eagles struck last. Benny Serrano delivered the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth and Joey Battaglia added a solo homer in the ninth as Niagara secured just its fifth win in the past 24 matchups between the programs.
 
Ryan Bellomo tied a career-high with nine strikeouts over six-plus innings for Siena which saw its six-game conference winning streak snapped. Zach Durfee added a pair of hits and runs scored and Brian Kelly scored twice in his final home game for the Saints which concluded their 2019 home slate by going 9-5 over a stretch featuring 14 of 16 games at Connors Park.
 
With the loss, Siena falls into a tie for sixth place in the MAAC Standings with Monmouth heading into the final weekend of action. The top-six teams qualify for the MAAC Tournament to be held in two weeks in Staten Island.
 
But first, the Saints conclude their non-conference docket Wednesday with a 1 p.m. contest at UMass Lowell.