NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team (17-25, 7-7) dropped its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series of the season Saturday when it lost to Rider University (27-16, 6-4) at Niagara Field.
The Broncs won the opener, 14-0, in five innings and the nightcap, 7-5.
The Purple Eagles return to action May 5 when they travel to Olean, N.Y., to take on Little Three rival St. Bonaventure at 3 p.m.
Game 1 - Rider 14, Niagara 0 (5 innings)
Rider sophomore Heather Beintema threw a no-hitter with nine strikeouts to help the Broncs win the opener in five innings.
Niagara junior Amanda Baluch (Delanson, N.Y.) drew a walk in the fifth inning to spoil Beintema’s perfect game.
Rider struck first when it scored seven runs on six hits and two errors in the first inning. The Broncs added two more runs in the second when Kristin Kenavan hit a two-run home run.
The Broncs took a 10-0 lead in the third when Brandey Weed scored on an error. In the fourth inning, Rider tallied three more runs when Jill Carrabus doubled and then scored on an error. Jennifer Cullen scored on a fielder’s choice and Courtney Weed scored on an error. The Broncs’ final run came when Amanda Tu tripled and then scored on a sacrifice fly.
Senior Tegan Bennett (Stouffville, Ont.) took the loss after giving up six hits and eight runs. Classmate Ashleigh Barber (Kelowna, B.C.) pitched four innings of relief and gave up five hits and six runs. Niagara committed seven errors in the game.
Game 2 - Rider 7, Niagara 5
Rider scored twice in the sixth inning to sweep the doubleheader.
In the first, Rider opened the scoring when Kenavan walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly. The Broncs scored their second run when Cullen doubled and scored on an error.
Niagara tied the game when senior Kristina Kilian (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) hit her fourth home run of the season and scored senior Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North).
The Purple Eagles took a 3-2 lead when Baluch walked, pinch runner Linzi Scarfone (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara) then stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Scarfone scored on junior Jamie Horn’s (Youngstown, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter) sacrifice fly to left field.
The Broncs regained the lead when Cullen hit a solo home run and Courtney Weed scored on a single by Brandey Weed.
Niagara took a 5-4 lead in the fifth when freshman Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) walked, went to third on a double by Julicher and scored on a wild pitch. Julicher then scored on a squeeze bunt by Baluch.
Rider got its go-ahead runs in the sixth when Carrabus doubled and scored on a single by Nicole Mears. Mears and Courtney Weed then scored on an error.
Senior Andrea Crapo (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) took the loss going three and two-thirds innings and giving up seven hits and five runs. Devin Karcesky got the win, throwing two and two-thirds of shutout innings.
