NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team (12-14) takes a break for conference play to host instate rival Syracuse University (17-28) Wednesday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Niagara Field.

The Purple Eagles are coming off a split with cross-town rival Canisius College. They won the first game of the doubleheader Tuesday, 2-0, but lost 4-1 in the nightcap.

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year candidate Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine) continues to lead the Niagara offense. The right fielder tops the squad in hitting (.385), hits (30), runs (18) and doubles (8).

Junior Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) and sophomore Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) both have 29 hits each and are hitting .337 and .326, respectively. Healy also leads the team in RBI (18) and is second in home runs (3).

Senior Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) tops the team in home runs (5), is second in RBI (16) and doubles (7) while hitting .320.

On the mound, sophomore Katie Gleiser (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Maryvale) and freshman Cassie Stone (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) are expected to start. Gleiser has made six appearances, including three starts, and has a 5.46 earned-run average, 0-3 record and six strikeouts. Stone has made one appearance this season, pitching three innings and striking out two.

Syracuse enters the doubleheader having lost four of its last six games. This past weekend, the Orange split a doubleheader at Seton Hall.

At the plate, Syracuse has five players hitting .300-or-better and the team is hitting .280. Junior Chanel Roehner leads the team with a .338 batting average, 44 hits, including 11 doubles.

Freshman Ev Anderson is hitting .320 and has a team-best 28 runs, while junior Rachel Tilford has a squad-leading six home runs and 32 RBI.

On the mound, Roehner has a 4.77 ERA in 16 starts and 26 appearances. She has two shut outs and 73 strikeouts. Rookie Brittany Gardner is 10-20 on the season with a 5.35 ERA in 29 starts and 36 games. She also has two shut outs and a team-best 122 strikeouts.

In last year’s meeting in Syracuse, Niagara lost, 13-0 and 6-0.