GREENSBORO S.C.-  Kicking off the 2008 season the Niagara softball team traveled south to Greensboro S.C. After day one of the UNC Greensboro Tournament the Purple Eagles have lost two close games. This morning in the season opener Niagara fell to Cleveland State 2-1, followed by facing UNC Greensboro this afternoon falling 3-2.

Despite leading the first game off with a home run, the Niagara softball team dropped its season opener at the UNC Greensboro Tournament. Cleveland State scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the 2-1 win.

In Niagara's first at-bat Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) hit a home run to get things started for the Purple Eagles, scoring Niagara's only run of the game. Coffey went 3-for-3 at the plate.

In a sixth inning comeback push, Cleveland State scored two unearned runs to pull ahead of the Purple Eagles and clinch the 2-1 victory. Both runs were scored with two outs in the frame.

"What can you say about a game that goes 1 hour and 10 minutes, a great defensive game with Cleveland State getting the winning run late in the game," said Al Dirschberger. "We had our opportunities, but could not cash in on them."

Despite the loss, Tiffany McCroy (Albuquerque, N.M.) carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning before giving up a pair of singles.

Niagara then faced UNC Greensboro in the afternoon and lost after facing another late inning push, while UNCG scored in the sixth inning for a 3-2 final.

UNCG led off by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning before Niagara answered with an two runs in the top of the second inning. Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Teresea Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) both scored for Niagara while Heidi Conlon (Lewiston, N.Y.) picked up two RBIs.

Starting the game on the mound for the Purple Eagles was Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos Calif.)  who struck out six batters and only allowed three hits. Niagara brought in Katie Gleiser (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) in the bottom of the fifth inning to finish out the game.

UNCG  scored in the sixth inning to take the lead and the eventual 3-2 victory over the Purple Eagles.

"Another solid defensive game, they came out and scored two runs in the bottom of the 1st only to have us respond with two runs in the top of the second," said Dirschberger. "From that point, a back and forth game with each team having bases loaded, runners in scoring position and both teams unable to bring the go ahead run in until the bottom of the 6th when UNCG was able to push the go ahead run across the plate."

Niagara continues it's tournament run when it takes on James Madison on Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m.