Niagara University, NY (April 14, 2003) - The Niagara softball (3-15, 3-3 MAAC) team got themselves back in the MAAC race Monday afternoon with a sweep of Manhattan. Ashleigh Barber (Kelowna, BC) got her first win on the mound in the first game of the day with a score of 4-1. In the second game freshman Shannon Mongalise's (Bethel Park, PA) clutch hit double in the fourth inning to bring in two runs helped lead the Purple Eagles to a 5-2 win.

In the first game of the day the score remained tied at zero until the bottom of the fourth when Niagara jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Mongalise got on base with a double and was driven in with an RBI single by junior co-captain Colleen Larsen (Beiseker, AB). Manhattan tied the game in the fifth with one run. Niagara rebounded in the home half of the fifth with three runs of their own to give the Purple Eagles the 4-1 win. Larsen got the fifth started with a single, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Honsberger (Pickering, Ont.) to move Larsen over to second. Jamie Horn (Youngstown, NY) stepped up to the plate next and hit a single that moved Larsen to third. Amanda Baluch (Delanson, NY) followed with a clutch hit double to bring home Larsen and Horn and put the Purple Eagles ahead 3-1. Cochrane eventually reached on an error by shortstop Erika Kostik that would score Baluch for the fourth run of the day.

Mongalise, Larsen and Baluch all went two for three in the game, with Baluch adding two RBI. Barber threw the complete game allowing only three hits and two walks. Barber struck out a season high eight batters.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Manhattan went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first but only after their first scoring attempt was spoiled on a beautiful recovery by Bradi Cochrane (Harriston, Ont.) on a passed ball who made the throw to pitcher Kristina Killian (Grand Island, NY) to tag Jennifer McCracken at home. The Purple Eagles came right back tying the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Baluch that scored Angie Clarke (Grafton, Ont.) from third. Niagara took a 2-1 lead in the second on Clarke's sacrifice fly that scored Barber. The Purple Eagles added to their lead in the fourth with two runs to go ahead 4-1. Cochrane started the inning with a single, followed by a Lisa Hess (Youngstown, NY) getting on by an error to the pitcher Brianna Illanosvky. Clarke would ground out advancing the runners to second and third. Mongalise would come to the plate and get her second double of the day to score Cochrane and Hess. In the fifth Niagara would add another run on a double by Killian to give the Purple Eagles a commanding 5-1 lead. Manhattan would manage just one more run in the sixth for a final score of 5-2.

Killian went the distance for the Purple Eagles on the mound allowing no earned runs. She surrendered just four hits and one walk, striking out five batters.

The Purple Eagles will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Youngstown State for a doubleheader. The games are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m..