Junior Shannon Mongalise |
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team snapped a three-game losing streak when it split a doubleheader at St. Bonaventure Thursday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field. The Bonnies won the opener, 7-4, but the Purple Eagles claimed the nightcap, 5-4.
Niagara returns to action Saturday when it hosts Siena College at noon in the Purple Eagles’ Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season opener.
Game 1
St. Bonaventure jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first five innings before Niagara cut the lead to 6-2 in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Nicole Sum reached on a fielder’s choice and then scored when senior Jamie Horn got on a with an error. Senior Kristin Kilian singled to right field to score freshman Tory Healy, who got on with a single up the middle.
Niagara scored twice more in the top of the seventh when sophomore Lisa Baker singled to center field and scored on senior Lauren Dombrowski’s first double of the season. Dombrowski then scored on a single by Sum.
Baker was 2 for 4 and Healy 2 for 3 for the Purple Eagles. Freshman Brooke Viola took the loss on the mound, giving up eight hits and six earned runs.
Game 2
Junior Shannon Mongalise was 3 for 3 with a double to help lead Niagara. Healy registered a pair of doubles and was 2 for 3 with two RBI.
The Purple Eagles plated the first run of the game when Healy walked, was sacrificed to second by Horn, reached third on a ground out by Kilian and then scored on Mongalise’s double to right center.
Niagara built a 4-1 lead after three innings. Senior Linzi Scarfone singled through the right side, went to second on a Baker single to left field, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Dombrowski and scored on a bunt from Sum. Baker and Sum then scored on Healy’s double to left field.
The Purple Eagles tallied their final run in the fourth inning when Mongalise singled, advanced to second a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Ashley Bognar and scored on a left-field single by Baker.
Freshman Tiffany McCrory picked up her third win of the season on the mound, giving up seven hits and one earned run while striking out a season-best 10.
