STELA NIAGARA, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Niagara Purple Eagles erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday afternoon to rout the Rider Broncs 12-3 at Bobo Field in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

Niagara improved to 21-15-1 overall while Rider dropped to 23-15. The Purple Eagles pounded out 14 hits, led by left fielder Curtis McKay, who went 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs. McKay has been hot recently, driving in at least one run in each of his previous four games, including a four-RBI performance April 26 at Saint Peter’s.

Rider managed only five hits and struck out 14 times. The Broncs took an early lead with a run in the top of the first, but Niagara answered in the bottom half. Jacob Brooks singled, moved to second on a hit batsman, advanced to third on a throwing error by Rider pitcher PJ Craig and scored on a single by Noah Konings. After a hit batsman loaded the bases, McKay singled up the middle to drive in Elijha Hammill, cutting the lead to 3-2. That remained the score through the end of the first.

The game was tied 3-3 after two innings. In the bottom of the second, Brooks singled again, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Rees Kozar. Rider starter PJ Craig, who allowed five earned runs on zero hits in five innings with six strikeouts, was charged with three runs in that frame.

Rider regained the lead in the top of the fifth. A. Paskell doubled, C. Magoulic singled, and after a strikeout, E. Medlock singled up the middle to score Paskell. Magoulic later scored on a wild pitch, and Medlock scored on a groundout by M. Leahy, making it 6-3 Rider. Niagara then turned to reliever Carter Fink, who got out of the inning.

The bottom of the fifth saw McKay’s pivotal moment. He led off with a solo home run to left field, his first of the game, cutting the Rider lead to 6-4. The next three batters were retired in order.

But the game shifted decisively in the bottom of the sixth. Craig had already been replaced by reliever C. Aiello after issuing a leadoff walk to Shawn Cameron, who moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on another wild pitch while Brooks walked. With runners at the corners, Elijha Hammill reached on a throwing error by Broncs second baseman, allowing Cameron to score and making it 6-5, with the run unearned. Noah Konings reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Rees Kozar singled through the right side, driving in Brooks and making it 6-6. With the bases still loaded, McKay delivered the knockout blow, singling to right field to drive in Konings and Hammill, giving Niagara an 8-6 lead. Both runs were unearned.

Aiello was lifted for Jake Dorety, but the damage continued. Tyler ViVacqua tripled to right-center, scoring McKay and Kozar to push the lead to 10-6. Cameron reached on a fielding error by Rider first baseman, scoring ViVacqua for an 11-6 lead. Cameron then stole home on a double steal with Brooks, making it 12-6. The inning finally ended when Hammill popped out to shortstop.

The Purple Eagles added no further runs in the seventh or eighth, but the game was already out of reach. Rider went down in order in the top of the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, managing only a walk in the ninth against Niagara’s bullpen.

Niagara used five pitchers. Starter Reuben Malamed went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with eight strikeouts. He was relieved by Fink, who tossed 1 1/3 innings of one-hit, scoreless ball. Nathan Harb worked 1 1/3 hitless innings, and Jack Dickinson finished with two perfect innings, striking out five. Dickinson earned the win. For Rider, Dorety and Noah Heath each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

The teams continue their three-game series Saturday and Sunday at Bobo Field.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of 8-7 in favor of Rider, and its ELO system gave the Broncs a 58.30 percent probability to win.