NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – With control of its own postseason destiny, the Niagara University softball team (12-16, 6-4) concludes the home portion of its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season this weekend when it hosts Marist College (17-23, 9-3) and Siena College (8-18, 6-6) at Niagara Field. Both doubleheaders begin at noon.

Niagara is currently in fourth place in the MAAC behind Marist, Saint Peter’s and Canisius while Siena is in fifth.

The Purple Eagles enter the weekend looking to shake a three-game losing streak after dropping a hard-fought doubleheader vs. in-state rival Syracuse Wednesday. Despite the loses, Niagara hit .333 as a team vs. the Orange and is hitting .292 on the season with five players hitting .300-or-better.

Seniors Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West) and Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) have put together a solid week so far. Baker is hitting a team-best .417 with four runs, five hits, two doubles and two RBI. Sum is hitting .385 with five hits, four runs, three doubles, a home run and two RBI.

For the season, MAAC Rookie of the Year candidate, Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine) continues to lead the team in hitting (.384), runs (20), hits (33), doubles (9) and stolen bases (3).

On the mound, juniors Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) have been the one-two punch for the Purple Eagles. McCrory is 7-7 overall in 16 appearances and 10 starts. She has a 3.04 earned-run average and 57 strikeouts. Viola has a 3.33 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 15 games and 13 starts.

Marist enters the weekend having won nine of its last 10 games. It had its nine-game winning streak snapped Tuesday, splitting a doubleheader with Fordham.

The Red Fox offense is led by Melissa Giordano. She tops the team in hitting (.377), hits (52) and doubles (10). Jessica Green is batting .352 and leads the squad in home runs (10) and RBI (28).

Marist has used a two-pitcher rotation between Megan Rigos and Caitlin Carpentier. Rigos, a preseason All-MAAC pick, has a 2.26 ERA and 10-9 record in 31 appearances, 15 starts and 14 complete games. She has two shut outs, five saves and 158 strikeouts. Carpentier sports a 3.44 ERA, 7-9 record in 19 starts.

Siena has a modest two-game winning streak entering the doubleheader. It swept Fairfield University in their last outing.

The Saints are led by Jennifer Granato with team bests in hitting (.380), runs (18), hits (30), doubles (6), home runs (10) and RBI (26). Andrea Piela and Kelly Boyle are also hitting .333 and .315, respectively.

On the mound, Lauren Shaheen has a 4.59 ERA and 4-5 record in 14 appearances and nine starts. Renee Clavette is 3-3 with a 6.10 ERA in 11 games and six starts.

Last year, Niagara split with Marist and Siena on the road.