NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After playing in three tournaments, the Niagara University softball team (4-10) opens its 18th season of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play when it meets Fairfield University and Iona College in doubleheaders this weekend. The Purple Eagles take on the Stags at noon Saturday and the Gaels at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Niagara enters the weekend series on a winning note after defeating Sacred Heart, 6-5 in nine innings, on March 25.

Senior Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) leads the team in hitting (.333), doubles (4) and home runs (2), and is second in hits (12) and RBI (7). Rookie Kristen Kill (South Portland, Maine) tops the squad in hits (13) and runs (7), and is second in hitting (.289) and doubles (3).

On the mound, junior Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) sports a 1.09 earned-run average in six appearances. She is 2-2 on the season and has 32 strikeouts.

Fairfield is 4-12 on the season and looks to snap a two-game losing streak when plays at Yale Wednesday.

Julia Jacoby leads the Stags’ offense, hitting .420 with 21 hits, including three doubles and three triples, nine runs and eight RBI.

Cagney Ringnalda has a 4.38 earned-run average in 11 games on the mound. She has a 3-8 record and 29 strikeouts.

After opening the season with four consecutive wins, Iona College will be looking to end a nine-game losing streak when hit meets Canisius College Saturday.

Kaitlin Calogera is hitting a team-leading .366 with 15 hits, and Laura Scott tops the squad with 10 RBI and a pair of triples.

Becky Riccitelli is Iona’s veteran on the mound. She has a 4.70 ERA, 2-5 record and 35 strikeouts in nine games.

In last year’s games, Niagara lost 1-0 and 7-3 to Fairfield, and split the series with Iona, losing 2-0 in game one and winning 4-2 in the second.