Freshman Felicia Coffey was 3 for 4 at the plate vs. UMBC Friday.

DOVER, Del. – Battling cold and windy weather, the Niagara University softball team (6-5) dropped its opening two games in the Bash at the Beach Tournament. The Purple Eagles lost 10-9 to UMBC and then 9-1 to Drexel.

Niagara returns to action Saturday when it plays St. Francis (Pa.) at 11 a.m. and St. Joseph’s at 5 p.m.

UMBC 10, Niagara 9

Leading 9-4 in the seventh inning, Niagara gave up six runs to fall to the Retrievers. The Purple Eagles collected 11 hits in the game, but had five errors.

Freshmen Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) and Jennifer Yee (North Delta, B.C.) combined for six hits while junior Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y.) and rookie Christine Howden (Peterborough, Ont.) had two hits apiece.

Sophomore Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) pitched the first six innings, giving up three hits and four runs while striking out three.

Drexel 9, Niagara 1

A six-run fifth inning and four errors was the difference for Niagara in game two.

The Purple Eagles’ lone run came when freshman Heather Lohrman (Newport Beach, Calif.) hit her first collegiate double to score junior Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) who got on with a walk and then stole second.

Freshman Katie Glesier (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Maryvale) took the loss, working seven innings, giving up five hits and nine runs.