Sophomore Nicole Sum

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Niagara University softball team (9-21, 1-7) had its losing streak extended to six games when it lost 2-0 and 3-1 to Fairfield University 25-20, 5-2) Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Sophomore Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) and junior Shannon Mongalise (Bethel Park, Pa.) each had two hits in the series.

The Purple Eagles return to action Monday when they play Iona College at 1 p.m. at Pinebrook Field.

Game 1 - Fairfield 2, Niagara 1

Neither team could muster much offense as they combined for eight hits. Fairfield got its first run of the game in the third inning when Tara Hansen reached on an error and then scored on a RBI single by Julia Jacoby.

The Stags final run came in the bottom of the fourth when Erin Frank homered to center field.

Senior Linzi Scarfone (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) had the Purple Eagles’ best chance to score when she hit her team-leading third triple of the season to right field in the top of the fourth with one out.

Freshman Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) threw a four-hitter with four strikeouts in six innings.

Game 2 - Fairfield 3, Niagara 1

Niagara trailed early in the game when Fairfield took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Jacoby reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and third and then scored on a Purple Eagle error. Cagney Ringnalda then hit a triple to right field to score Frank, who got on with a walk and then stole second.

The Purple Eagles cut the Stags’ lead to one, 2-1, in the fourth when Sum walked, went to third on a sacrifice and error and then scored when senior Amanda Baluch (Delanson, N.Y.) walked. Niagara left three runners on in the inning.

Fairfield scored its final run in the fifth when Hansen doubled to center field, stole third and then scored on a Niagara error.

Freshman Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) registered her team-leading seventh double of the season in the second inning. The Purple Eagles were held to four hits.

Rookie Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) gave up five hits, two earned runs and struck out four in six innings.