NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – With postseason hopes on the line, the Niagara University softball team (22-19, 4-6) meets Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference-leading Marist College (28-9, 10-2) Thursday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at the Softball Park at Gartland Athletic Field.
Currently in sixth place, the Purple Eagles need to win its final six games to secure a spot in the 2006 MAAC Championship next weekend.
Niagara’s offense needs to kick it into over drive. The squad is hitting .258 and averages 6.3 hits and 3.7 runs per game. The pitching corps has kept the Purple Eagles in games with a 3.21 earned-run average and 4.6 strikeouts per game.
MAAC Freshman of the Year candidate Jennifer Yee (North Delta, B.C.) continues to have a record-setting rookie season. The shortstop broke the single-season record for home runs (10) and tied the mark for hits (54). She also has the top single-season batting average (.470), and needs two runs to top that chart. Yee also ranks first in the league and seventh in the country in hitting, 14th in the NCAA in slugging percentage (.826) and is the 14th toughest player in the nation to strikeout (22.4).
First team All-MAAC candidate Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) is also turning in a solid sophomore campaign. She is second on the squad in hitting (.375), runs (25), hits (42) and home runs (8). The first baseman leads the team in doubles (12) and RBI (33).
On the mound, sophomore Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) needs to continue her consistent pitching. Without the services of classmate Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.), McCrory is expected to get the start in all six games this weekend. She enters Thursday’s doubleheader with team-bests in ERA (2.58) and strikeouts (91). With an 11-9 record, she is five wins away from the single-season record. The right-hander has made 22 appearances, 18 starts and posted 15 complete games.
Freshman Katie Gleiser (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Maryvale) is available if the Purple Eagles need her. She has a 3.75 ERA and 5-4 record in 13 appearance and nine starts.
Niagara will run into the best offensive team in the league Thursday. Marist is hitting .293 and averages 7.8 hits and 5.0 runs per game. It ranks eighth in the nation in home runs (40) and 25th in ERA (2.23). Defensively, the Red Foxes are limiting opponents to a .212 batting average, 5.2 hits and 2.5 runs per game.
The Red Foxes’ biggest offensive weapon is Chrystine McHugh. The senior is third in the league and 11th in the country in hits (47), and leads the MAAC in slugging percentage (.814), runs (39) and home runs (14).
Freshman Jessica Green has a team-leading 10 doubles and 40 RBI while hitting .353 with 42 hits.
On the mound, MAAC Pitcher of the Week Megan Rigos is third in the country in ERA (0.87) and 29th in saves (3). She sports an 18-4 record and averages 4.7 strikeouts in 28 appearances and 154.2 innings of work.
Freshman Caitlin Carpentier is second on the team with a 2.56 ERA and 7-2 record. She averages 3.3 strikeouts and foes are hitting .268 against her.
In last year’s meeting, Marist won a pair on Monteagle Ridge, 14-5, 10-1. The Purple Eagles swept the series in 2004.
