NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team (8-14, 0-0) opens the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference portion of its 2005 schedule when it hosts Siena College (16-15, 3-1) Saturday and Marist College (12-14, 2-0) Sunday. Both doubleheaders begin at noon at Niagara Field.
The Purple Eagles snapped a four-game losing streak Thursday when they split a doubleheader at St. Bonaventure. Niagara dropped the opener, 7-4, but won the nightcap, 5-4.
The younger Purple Eagles continue to lead the offensive attack. This week, freshman Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) is hitting .400 with two doubles and two RBI. The second baseman also has a .600 slugging percentage.
Sophomore Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca) is hitting .385 with a team-leading five hits. Collecting extra-base hits, all doubles, this week have been seniors Linzi Scarfone (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) and Lauren Dombrowski (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and junior Shannon Mongalise (Bethel Park, Pa.).
The freshman pitching duo of Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) will look to find their groove this weekend. McCrory has a 2.39 ERA and a 1-1 record in three appearances this week. She also has 16 strikeouts. Viola has a double-digit ERA and is winless this week in two appearances.
Siena had its five-game winning streak snapped Thursday with loses of 10-5 and 7-5 to Colgate. The Saints do sport a three-game winning streak in the MAAC after splitting with Canisius and sweeping Rider.
Senior Sarah Rose leads Siena in hitting (.471), hits (40), doubles (7), home runs (3), RBI (30) and slugging percentage (.706). Sophomore Jennifer Griner has a team-best 22 runs and freshman Jennifer Granato has a squad-leading three triples.
On the mound, junior Tara Campbell has a 2.83 ERA in 11 starts. She is 5-8 overall, but only thrown 9.1 innings in the four league games. The right hander has 62 strikeouts and foes are hitting .264. Senior Adrian St. Cin has a 3.09 ERA, 9-3 record and 13 starts. The right hander has struck out 53 and opponents are hitting .262.
Marist enters the Western New York swing with a four-game winning streak. In their last outing on Tuesday, the Red Foxes beat Columbia, 6-4 and 3-2. Marist plays at Canisius Saturday before traveling to Monteagle Ridge.
The juniors are leading the Red Fox attack. Chrystine McHugh is leading the team in hitting (.375), runs (21) and hits (30). Jasmery Polanco is tied with classmate Katie Eskin with a squad-best eight doubles each. Bridget Hurlman tops the team with five home runs and 17 RBI.
Marist has a young pitching staff with two freshmen and a sophomore in the rotation. Rookie Megan Rigos has made 21 appearances and 15 starts. She has a 3.04 ERA, 9-9 record and 14 complete games. The 6-foot pitcher also has a team-best 60 strikeouts and opponents are hitting .258.
Freshman Kristen Merlino has a 3.50 ERA, a 3-4 record and 12 strikeouts. Sophomore Lyndsay Ward has made just three appearances and one start this season.
Last year, Niagara won three of the four games vs. Siena and Marist. The Purple Eagles split it series with the Saints, dropping the opener, 4-0, but winning the second, 3-2. Against the Red Foxes, Niagara won 3-2 and 5-4.
