NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team (10-12, 4-2) won its home-opening series with 14-6 and 9-6 victories over Manhattan College (2-29, 1-7) Saturday afternoon at Niagara Field.

The Purple Eagles pounded out 27 hits and hit .466 as a squad. Freshman Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine) was 4-of-5 with a double, home run and three RBI. Senior Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West) was 6-of-8 with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Junior Melissa Markle (Orchard Park, N.Y./West Seneca West), sophomore Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) and freshman Jenna Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West) each had home runs and combine for 15 RBI.

Niagara returns to action Sunday when it hosts Saint Peter’s at noon at Niagara Field.

Niagara 9, Manhattan 6

Niagara used a four-run fourth inning to take control of game one and win in five innings.

Senior Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) put the Purple Eagles up 1-0 in the first when she had an RBI single to centerfield. Lisa Baker made it 2-0 when she hit a double to right field.

Manhattan took a 3-2 in the top of the third when Danielle Just hit a two-run home run to left centerfield and the Jaspers scored on an error.

Niagara regained the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the third when junior Jamie Constantz (Endicott, N.Y.) hit a two-run single to left center.

The Purple Eagles’ pushed their lead to 8-3 in the fourth when Coffey led off with a home run and Lisa Baker hit an RBI single to right field. Jenna Baker then it a two-run home run to left field.

The Jaspers plated two in the top of the fifth when Michelle Gutierrez had a sacrifice fly and Candice Sheridan had an RBI single.

Niagara scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth when Coffey scored on a wild pitch. Manhattan added a run in the top of the seventh when Gutierrez doubled to right center, scoring Just.

Junior Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) won her sixth game of the season, striking out six in a complete game.

Niagara 14, Manhattan 6 (5 innings)

Niagara scored three runs in the first two winnings and four in the fourth and fifth innings to win game one.

Jenna Baker had a two-run double in the first inning and Kill hit a three-run home run in the second to put the Purple Eagles up 6-2 after two.

Manhattan trimmed the lead to 6-5 in the third when Gutierrez hit a three-run double down the right field line.

The Purple Eagles collected four runs on three hits in the fourth and another four runs on five hits in the fifth.

Junior Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) picked up the win, allowing eight hits and striking out two.