NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Led by Cheryl Julicher’s two home runs, the Niagara University softball team (17-23) split Wednesday’s non-conference doubleheader against Youngstown State (27-15) at Niagara Field. Niagara won the nightcap, 8-7, and dropped the opener, 6-4.
In the nightcap, Julicher (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North) stroked a three-run home run in the first inning and then hit a two-run digger in the sixth to win the game for Niagara.
Julicher was 3 for 6 on the day with two runs, a double, two home runs, seven runs batted in and 10 total bases. The senior had a 1.667 slugging percentage and .625 on-base percentage.
Niagara returns to action this weekend when it hosts Rider University in a doubleheader. First pitch is at noon at Niagara Field.
Game 1 - Youngstown State 6, Niagara 4
Char Kudlock hit a two-run home run to center field in the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie and win the game for Youngstown State.
Niagara scored first when Julicher doubled to left center to score senior Angie Clarke (Grafton, Ont.), who got on with a walk.
Youngstown State took a 4-1 lead in the third inning when Kudlock hit a grand slam home run to right center.
The Purple Eagles made it 4-2 in the third when sophomore Shannon Mongalise (Bethel Park, Pa.) singled up the middle, went to second on freshman Lisa Baker’s (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca) singled between third and shortstop and then scored on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.).
Niagara struck for its third run when senior Tegan Bennett (Stouffville, Ont.) doubled to center field, went to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a Mongalise single between third base and shortstop.
The Purple Eagles tied the game in the fifth when Sum singled up the middle, stole second and scored on an overthrow to second.
Kudlock struck again in the seventh when she hit a two-run home run to center field to give the Penguins the 6-4 win.
Sum was 2 for 4 and Mongalise 2 for 3. Bennett took the loss, going seven innings and giving up eight hits and striking out nine. Karlie Burnell got the win allowing four hits and one run in four innings of relief work.
Game 2 - Niagara 8, Youngstown State 7
Julicher’s three-run home run capped a four-run seventh inning that propelled Niagara to its 17 win of the season.
The Purple Eagles opened its half of the first inning with a three-run home run to left field from Julicher that scored Baker and Sum.
Youngstown State answered in the second when Lacy Bronson tripled to left field and scored on Amber Smith’s single up the middle.
The Purple Eagles fourth run came when Mongalise walked, stole second and then scored on a double by Sum.
The Penguins tied the game in the third when they scored three runs on four hits and an error. Youngstown State then took the led in the fifth when pinch runner Erin Moore scored on an error. Two more runs came in the sixth when Amanda Berry doubled in Kudlock and Reichert.
Senior Ashleigh Barber (Kelowna, B.C.) got her fourth win of the year and classmate Andrea Crapo (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) got her second save of the year. Baker was 2 for 4 with a double and Sum 2 for 3 with a double. Burnell took the loss for the Penguins.
