CLEVELAND, Oh. – The Purple Eagles softball team went 1-1 on the first day of competition at the Cleveland State Dome Tournament on Saturday. After an 8-1 loss to Bowling Green, Niagara would end the day with an explosive offensive effort, earning a 9-0, five-inning victory over the Robert Morris Colonials.
 
Jennifer Szilagyi earned her first career win in the circle with the shutout victory over Robert Morris. Sarah March led Niagara with three hits, two doubles, and three runs scored on the day, while Kendall Watkins hit the team's first home run of the season in the second inning against Robert Morris.
 
Bowling Green 8, Niagara 1

• The Falcons opened the game with three first-inning runs, all unearned, against Niagara pitcher Bridget Hogan. Bowling Green scored the first run of the game off a fielding error, extending the lead to 3-0 with an RBI groundout to second base and a sacrifice fly to center field.
• Niagara got on the board in the bottom of the first to make it a 3-1 game. Sarah March gave the Purple Eagles a single to left center in the team's first at-bat of the season. Hogan came to the plate with two outs on the board and singled to center field, bringing March home.
• After making it 4-1 in the second inning, Bowling Green pushed the lead to 7-1 with a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Hogan was relieved by freshman Emily Johnston after 3.1 innings in the circle.
• The Falcons were held to just one run and two hits the remainder of the game, but Niagara was unable to narrow the deficit as Bowling Green took the 8-1 win.

 
Niagara 9, Robert Morris 0

• In a five-inning blowout of the Colonials, Niagara scored two runs or more in four consecutive innings to pick up their first win of the 2017 campaign.
• Freshman Kendall Watkins opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run homer to right center, scoring Bridget Hogan who had singled to lead off the inning.
• Sarah March picked up an RBI double in the third inning after Sarah Trifoso hit a leadoff single. Niagara made it 4-0 before the inning was done as Rachel Funk walked with the bases loaded, scoring March.
• With runners on second and third for Taylor Moody in the fourth inning, Niagara scored one run on a wild pitch before Moody singled to center field to bring the other runner home.
• Funk picked up a second RBI with a single up the middle to start the fifth inning scoring, bringing home Brianna Clark to make it a 7-0 Purple Eagles lead.
• With pinch runner Alexandra Moore on third and Watkins on second, Moore scored on a wild pitch before Jennifer Timm singled through the left side, scoring Watkins for the final run of the game.
• Jennifer Szilagyi pitched five shutout innings in the circle, yielding just three hits to the Colonials while striking out one in the complete-game effort.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Sarah March finished the first day with a team-high .429 batting average (3-for-7), hitting two doubles and adding one RBI and three runs scored.
• Kendall Watkins and Rachel Funk finished the day with a team-high two RBIs each, with Watkins picking up the team's first home run of the season.
• March led the team with three runs scored, while Watkins and Sarah Trifoso tied for second with two apiece.
• Jennifer Szilagyi turned in third career complete game and first career shutout in the win over Robert Morris. It was also her first career win.

Up Next

• Niagara plays two more games on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the 2017 edition of the Cleveland State Dome Tournament. The Purple Eagles will face the host Cleveland State Vikings at 10:30 a.m. before wrapping up the tournament with a second game against Robert Morris at 3:30 p.m.

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