Sophomore Lisa Baker

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team (7-13) dropped its home opening doubleheader Wednesday when it fell to Syracuse University (20-12), 5-1 and 8-0, at Niagara Field.

The Purple Eagles return to action tomorrow when they play St. Bonaventure at 3 p.m.

Game 1 - Syracuse 5, Niagara 1

Sophomore Courtney Mosch threw a three-hitter to help Syracuse win the opener, 5-1. The right-hander had six strikeouts to help her cause. Mosch was the Orange’s top offensive threat, going 3 for 4 with a double.

Niagara got singles from sophomores Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca) and Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) and senior Linzi Scarfone (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls). Freshman Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) took the loss, dropping to 2-6 on the season. The right-hander had five strikeouts.

Syracuse took the quick lead when it tallied three runs in the first inning. Cassie Morales doubled in Tanya Rose. Shawna Norris then hit a two-run double to left field to plate Alexis Switenko and Morales.

Niagara got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first when junior Shannon Mongalise (Bethel Park, Pa.) got hit by a pitch and scored when senior Amanda Baluch (Delanson, N.Y.) walked.

The Orange made it 5-1 when they scored in the top of the sixth. Tiffany Robinson singled and then scored on a deep fly to right field by Chanel Roehner.

Game 2 - Syracuse 8, Niagara 0

Freshman Erin Downey threw a one-hit shutout to pick up her 11th win of the season. The right-hander had a perfect game until the bottom of the fifth when freshman Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) walked and senior Kristina Kilian (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) had the Purple Eagles’ lone single.

Courtney Mosch was again the Orange’s star, going 3 for 3 with three runs and three RBI.

Syracuse jumped out to another quick lead when Tanya Rose tripled to centerfield and then scored on a Chanel Roehner double to left field. Roehner then scored on a single by Mosch. Mosch then scored when Erin Gray doubled to left field.

In the top of the third, Syracuse scored once when Tiffany Robinson singled in Mosch after the sophomore doubled to centerfield to open the inning.

The Orange collected three more runs in the top of the fourth when Mosch hit a two-run home run to left field and Shawna Norris added a solo digger.

Robinson scored Syracuse’s final run in the top of the fifth when she singled, stole second and then scored on a single by Chanel Roehner.