NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team (16-10, 2-2) lost its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series of the season, dropping two games to two-time defending league champion Canisius College (15-16, 2-2) Sunday afternoon. The Purple Eagles lost the opener, 7-1, and the nightcap, 3-2.
"We played like young players today," Niagara head coach Al Dirschberger said. "They (Canisius) adjusted and we didn’t. But we had our opportunities in the game."
The Purple Eagles return to action Wednesday when they travel to Syracuse for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
Canisius 7, Niagara 1
Canisius’ Courtney Piar threw a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts to hand Niagara its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss of the season.
Niagara junior Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) collected an RBI single and freshman Jennifer Yee (North Delta, B.C.) the other single for Niagara. Sophomore Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) took the loss, giving up seven hits, walking six and striking out five. Canisius’ Melissa Lemos was 2 for 4.
Canisius scored first when it plated two runs in the first inning. Ashley Bonetto got on with an error, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a double to left centerfield by Katie Miranto. Miranto then scored on a Purple Eagle error.
The Golden Griffins scored two more runs in the fourth when Natalie Osika scored on a single by Bonetto and then Lori Gilbert stole home.
Niagara got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and then scored on an RBI single to right centerfield by Sum.
Canisius took a four-run lead in the fifth when Cameron Norton got on with a fielder’s choice, moved to third on a double to left centerfield by Lemos and then scored on a passed ball.
In the top of the sixth, the Golden Griffins scored two more runs when Miranto stole home and Jamie Gerace scored on an error.
Canisius 3, Niagara 2
Canisius scored three runs in the top of the sixth to sweep the series with Niagara.
Niagara scored first when Healy hit a double to left centerfield to score freshman Heather Lohrman (Newport Beach, Calif.) who got on with a double down the left field line.
The Golden Griffins’ sixth inning outburst started when Miranto singled and then moved to second on an error. With one out and two runners on, Norton singled and Niagara committed an error that cleared the bases.
With two outs, Niagara had the game tying- and game-winning runs on third and second base in the bottom of the seventh but Canisius got the ground out.
Sophomore Brook Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) took the loss, giving up seven hits and striking out five. Healy was 2 for 3 with an RBI and run. Miranto was 3 for 4 and Norton 2 for 3.
