Freshman Jennifer Yee was 6 for 7 with a walk-off home run and a double in the Cleveland State series. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team’s (16-8) modest three-game winning streak came to an end Thursday when it split a mid-week, non-conference doubleheader with Cleveland State (17-6). The Purple Eagles won the opener, 3-2, but dropped the nightcap, 9-0.
Niagara returns to action Sunday at 2 p.m. when it hosts cross-town rival and two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Canisius College in a doubleheader at Niagara Field.
Niagara 3, Cleveland State 2
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year candidate Jennifer Yee (North Delta, B.C.) hit her first collegiate walk-off home run to plate the game-winning run and extend Niagara’s winning streak to three games.
Niagara scored first when junior Ashley Bognar (Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O’Hara) hit her second home run of the season to right centerfield.
Cleveland State tied the game in the top of the third when Shannon Graves got on with a single bunt, stole second and scored on a double to left centerfield.
The Purple Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third when freshman Jennifer Yee (North Delta, B.C.) singled up the middle, stole second, moved to third on a putout and scored on an RBI single up the middle by senior Shannon Monaglise (Bethel Park, Pa.).
The Vikings tied it in the top of the sixth when Michele Penney doubled to right centerfield, stole third and scored on a double to left field by Kaitlin Guyette.
Yee was 4 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. On the mound, sophomore Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) picked up her eight win of the season.
Cleveland State 9, Niagara 0
Niagara suffered its fourth shutout of the season as its pitching corps gave up its second-most hits (13) and second-most runs on the season.
Yee went 2 for 3 and senior Kelly Flaherty (Hastings, N.Y.) recorded Niagara’s only other hit in the game.
Cleveland State opened the game with four runs on four hits, including a trio of doubles.
Michelle Nicholas scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second to put the Vikings up 5-0.
In the top of the sixth, Cleveland State added its sixth run when Michele Nicholas singled in Kaitlin Guyette.
Cleveland State scored three times in the top of the seventh when J.J. Thornberry hit her second double of the game to drive in Christa Coppus. Guyette then singled in Thornberry and Guyette scored on a single by Sarah Milosek.
