Junior Jamie Horn had a double vs. Youngstown State earlier this season.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team takes in a mid-week doubleheader Wednesday when it hosts the Youngstown State Penguins at Niagara Field at 3 p.m.

Niagara enters the doubleheader with a 16-22 record on the season and in a tie with Canisius for second place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings with a 7-5 mark.

The Purple Eagles will be looking for some revenge after falling to the Penguins, 12-1, March 12 in the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla. Niagara had four hits in the game, including a double by junior Jamie Horn (Youngstown, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter) in the fourth inning. The Penguins scored seven runs in the second inning on two hits and two errors.

MAAC Player of the Year candidate Cheryl Julicher is Niagara’s top offensive threat. She is leading the team in hitting (.344), runs (27), triples (4), home runs (4), slugging percentage (.624), runs batted in (26), walks (15), stolen bases (6) and on-base percentage (.436).

Freshman catcher Nicole Sum leads the squad in doubles (7) and hits (37) while hitting .336. Classmate Lisa Baker tops the team in hits (37) and at bats (124) and is second in runs (24) and doubles (7). The shortstop is also hitting .298.

On the mound for the Purple Eagles, senior Tegan Bennett has a team low 2.38 earned-run average. She leads the pitching corp. in appearances (21), starts (15), complete games (9), innings pitched (105.2) and strikeouts (47). Classmate Andrea Crapo has a 6-6 record with a 4.33 ERA. She has made 20 appearances with 12 starts, two complete games, a save and 24 strikeouts.

Youngstown State is 26-14 overall and has won eight of its last 10 games. The Penguins are 7-3 in the Horizon League and are third in the standings behind Illinois-Chicago and Cleveland State.

Sophomore Tiffany Patterson is hitting a team-best .397 for the Penguins. She is has a team-leading 48 hits, 32 runs and 17 doubles. Senior Amanda Berry is hitting .373 with a squad-best four triples, six home runs, 33 RBI and six stolen bases.

On the mound, sophomore Kelly Murphy is 13-8 on the season and has starter 21 games and completed 20. The right-hander has a 1.14 ERA and seven shutouts. Opponents are hitting .167 vs. Murphy and she has struck out 114 and walked 20.

Freshman Karlie Burnell is 8-4 on the season with a 1.47 ERA. The right-hander has started 12 of 17 games, and opponents are hitting .241.