Senior Colleen Larsen |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team continues its six-game home stand Thursday when it hosts Cleveland State in a doubleheader at Niagara Field.
The Purple Eagles enter the doubleheader riding a three-game winning streak. Niagara's doubleheader with St. Bonaventure was rained out Wednesday.
Niagara is 14-18 on the season and sits in first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings with a 6-2 record.
Senior Bradi Cochrane (Harriston, Ont.) is leading Niagara in hitting (.412). Senior Kristina Kilian (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) is also hitting .400 and is tied with MAAC Player of the Year candidate Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville) for the team lead in home runs (3). Julicher is also leading the Purple Eagles in hits (28), runs (21), triples (4) and runs batted in (23), while hitting .384.
Freshman Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) is batting .311 and has a team-best 28 hits, including a team-leading five doubles. Classmate Lisa Baker has scored 20 runs, has team-bests of 28 hits and five doubles.
On the mound, senior Andrea Crapo (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) and junior Tegan Bennett (Stouffville, Ont.) are tied for the team lead in wins (5). Bennett has a 2.60 earned-run average and Crapo is at 3.50. Bennett has a squad-best 37 strike outs. Senior Ashleigh Barber (Kelowna, B.C.) is 3-5 on the year and has a 4.86 ERA.
Cleveland State is 20-18 overall and has won its last 11 games, including a pair of rain-shortened outings Wednesday vs. St. Francis (Pa.) in Cleveland.
Senior Michelle Beightol is hitting a team-best .339 for the Vikings. She is has a team-leading 39 hits, 20 runs, three triples, four home runs and 26 RBI. Junior Jackie Cornelius is hitting .280 with a 30 hits, 15 runs and a team-best 10 doubles.
On the mound, sophomore Grace Luginbuhl is 11-7 on the season and has starter 16 of 30 games. The right-hander has a 1.50 ERA and 11 complete games. Opponents are hitting .221 vs. Luginbuhl and she has struck out 130 and walked 32.
Junior Kortney Spidell is 8-6 on the season with a 2.20 ERA. The right-hander has started 14 of 19 games, and opponents are hitting .269.
