Junior Shannon Mongalise had the game-winning hit against St. Francis (Pa.) Wednesday afternoon.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Junior Shannon Mongalise’s (Bethel Park, Pa.) had the game-winning hit that helped the Niagara University softball team (10-23) to a 7-6 win over St. Francis (Pa.) College (9-35) Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference game at Niagara Field. The victory snaps the Purple Eagles’ six-game losing streak.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Mongalise hit the base of the right-center field fence to score sophomore Ashley Bognar (Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O’Hara). The hit was the designated hitter’s third of the game.

Sophomore Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) was 3 for 4 with a double, sophomore Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West) was 2 for 4 and freshman Melissa Markle (Orchard Park, N.Y./West Seneca West) was 2 for 2 with a triple.

Niagara needed the seventh-inning dramatics after letting a 5-3 lead entering the seventh slip away. St. Francis’ pinch runner, Lindsay Sossong, cut the lead to 5-4 when she scored on a single by Jordanna Riggi. The Red Flash then tied the game when Kate Lancaster scored on a RBI single by Melissa Mackel. Riggi gave St. Francis the 6-5 lead when she scored on a throwing error.

Senior Linzi Scarfone (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Markle hit her first career triple through the right side of the field. The Purple Eagles then set-up Mongalise’s game-winning hit when they loaded the bases with back-to-back walks.

St. Francis opened the scoring in the third when Christine MacDonald doubled to right field and then scored on a single by Riggi. Mackel then hit her fifth home run of the year to plate Riggi.

Niagara cut the lead to 3-1 when Baker singled, went to second on a walk and then scored on a single up the middle by Sum.

Senior Jamie Horn (Youngstown, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter) hit her second home run of the season in the fourth inning to make it a one-run game, 3-2.

Niagara took a 5-3 lead in the sixth when Markle singled, went to second on a wild pitch, reached third on a fly and then scored on a ground out. After back-to-back singles from Baker and Mongalise, Sum cracked a two-run double into right-center field for the lead.

The Purple Eagles return to action Thursday when they travel to Youngstown, Ohio, to meet the Youngstown Penguins in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.