VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – For the third consecutive day, the Niagara University softball team (3-7) earned a split at the Norfolk State Dixie Classic in Virginia Beach, Va.

The Purple Eagles beat in-state rival Binghamton University, 5-2, in game one of a doubleheader, but lost 16-0 in game two.

Niagara returns to action March 16-18 when it travels to Dover, Del., to play in the Delaware State Tournament.

Niagara 5, Binghamton 2

Junior Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) picked up her first win of the season on the mound, scattering nine hits and striking out four.

Niagara took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when senior Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West) walked and then scored on an RBI double to left centerfield by freshman Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine). Junior Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) singled and then senior Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) brought in Kill with a suicide squeeze.

The Purple Eagles went up 5-0 in the third inning when Healy singled, Sum walked and freshman Jenna Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West) then hit a three-run triple that bounced off the top of the fence in left field.

Binghamton 16, Niagara 0

It wasn’t Niagara’s day on the mound in game two as the Purple Eagles gave up 13 runs in the second inning.

Niagara got hits from Kill, sophomore Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) and junior Jamie Constantz (Endicott, N.Y.). Sophomore Katie Gleiser (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Maryvale) took the loss on the mound.