Freshman Tory Healy

CLEVELAND – The Niagara University softball team split its first conventional doubleheader of the season, beating Cleveland State, 3-2, in the first game, but then dropping a 5-3 nightcap at Viking Field.

The Purple Eagles are now 7-11 on the season and host Syracuse in their home opener on April 13 at 3 p.m. at Niagara Field.

Niagara 3, Cleveland State 2

Freshman Tory Healy (Las Vegas) hit a two-run home run in the six inning for the game-winning hit in Niagara win over Cleveland State.

Healy’s team-leading third home run of the season plated sophomore Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y.). The rookie belted a triple in the first inning, scoring Baker to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.

Healy was 3 of 3 at the plate and Baker was 1 for 3. Freshman Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) gave up five hits on the mound.

Cleveland State 5, Niagara 3

The fifth inning was Niagara’s demise as it allowed four runs and two errors to trail 5-0.

Senior Lauren Dombrowski (Lancaster, N.Y.) had a two-run single in the seventh inning to right field to score senior Jamie Horn (Youngstown, N.Y.) and sophomore Ashley Bognar (Tonawanda, N.Y.). Dombrowski then scored when Baker singled up the middle. After a walk by senior Linzi Scarfone (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) to put runners in scoring position, Cleveland State registered back-to-back outs for the win.