NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After posting a 3-1 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last weekend, the Niagara University softball team (15-17) steps out of conference Wednesday for its final home doubleheader. The Purple Eagles host Youngstown State (14-17) at 3 p.m. at Niagara Field.

Niagara has won three of its last four games, including its last, a 7-0 shut out of Siena College on April 29.

MAAC All-Conference candidate, senior Lisa Baker (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West), continues to lead the team on offense. The shortstop leads the team with a .389 batting average and 23 runs. On the career charts, Baker ranks first in hit (154), runs (102) and at-bats (527).

Conference Rookie of the Year candidate Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine) tops the squad in hits (38), doubles (10) and stolen bases (3) while hitting .384.

All-conference candidates Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Nicole Sum (Burnaby, B.C.) are hitting .352 and .320, respectively. Healy also leads the team in hits (38) and RBI (23) while Sum has a squad-best 10 doubles and seven home runs.

Sophomores Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) and Heather Lohrman (Newport Beach, Calif.) are also hitting .300-or-better with averages of .316 and .315, respectively.

On the mound, the one-two punch of juniors Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Brooke Viola (Los Alamitios, Calif.) have earned-run averages of .292 and 3.59, respectively. McCrory is 7-5 on the season in 18 appearances, 15 starts. She also has four shut outs, a save and 71 strikeouts. Viola is 8-8 in 18 appearances and 12 starts, and has 63 strikeouts.

Youngstown State enters the doubleheader looking to snap a two-game losing streak after dropping its road series at Wright State April 28. The Penguins have lost four of their last six games.

McKenzie Bedra leads Youngstown State’s offensively, hitting .424 with 39 hits, including 13 doubles and eight home runs, and 28 RBI.

On the mound, Karlie Burnell has started a team-best 15 games and has a 3.60 ERA and 10-7 record. Danielle Chase has a 3.58 ERA and 2-6 record in 12 appearances, including nine starts.

Last year, Niagara dropped two games to Youngstown State on the road.