Box Score vs. ETSU

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. - The Niagara softball team (0-5) dropped its final game of the 2012 Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial to the East Tennessee State Buccaneers (3-10) by a 1-0 margin on Sunday morning.

"We did an outstanding job of bouncing back from yesterday," head coach Al Dirschberger said. "What we didn't gain in wins, we gained in knowledge. We played tough competition and we will learn from it. Today we had plenty of opportunities to push a run across, but we fell short."

The Purple Eagles surrendered a run in the top of the second inning, after sophomore Kim Bryson gave up a double and a single to start the frame. Three batters later, a single through the right side of the infield gave the Buccaneers a slim 1-0 lead. 

Niagara nearly tied the game in the bottom of the third inning, after a lead-off single by Desarae Maldonado and a single by Katelyn Gruarin gave the Purple Eagles runners on first base and second base with two outs. With the Purple Eagles threatening to score, junior catcher Becky Zill drilled a ball to the shortstop for the final out.

The Purple Eagles had their best chance to tie the game two innings later, after a lead-off double by Maldonado. Sophomore Brittany Richberg would make it to first base on a fielding error, pushing Maldonado over to third base. Niagara would then be retired in order, ending any chance to tie the game or take the lead.

Bryson threw the complete game, fanning seven batters, while allowing just one run on six hits.

The Purple Eagles are back in action next Friday against Fairleigh Dickinson and Princeton during day one of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retriever Classic.