NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University softball team defeated the Fairfield Stags (13-21-1, 3-4-1 MAAC) 7-4 and 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. The victory places the Purple Eagles at 18-16 (7-1 MAAC), which is good for second place in the MAAC.

Head coach Al Dirschberger saw his team put together a strong and successful weekend, one which will help them come crunch time.

"I think that we have grown and matured a lot over the past two days," stated Dirschberger. "Today we learned that if our pitching can keep us in a game, then our bats will come around."

Niagara 7, Fairfield 4
The Stags wasted no time putting four runs on the board in the first three innings of play. Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) singled in Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) to cut the deficit to 4-1 in the third.

Down 4-1, the Purple Eagles would turn up their offensive game, scoring six unanswered runs. In the fourth inning, Niagara got the first four batters on base, including Teresa Healy's (Las Vegas, Nev.) three-run bomb over the right field wall to put Niagara up 6-4.

The Purple Eagles would add another run in the fifth inning, as Maggie McDonald (Cicero, N.Y.) got Niagara' first hit of the inning, a double to right center field. Heather Lohrman (Newport Beach, Calif.) then doubled down the left field line, bringing around McDonald.

McDonald went 2-for-2 with two runs, while Lohrman was 1-for-1 with an RBI. Teresa Healy went 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

Niagara 3, Fairfield 1
The second game was a strong pitching duel between Niagara's Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Stags hurler Kelli Panter. Fairfield drew first blood in the second inning, as Jenna DiBernardo sent a ball over the center field wall for the 1-0 lead.

The Purple Eagles were struggling against the freshman, until they broke through in the sixth inning. With the score still 1-0, Teresa Healy sent the first offering to her over the left field wall to knot the game at one. Later in the inning, Jenna Baker (West Seneca, N.Y.) walked, giving way for McDonald. The freshman shortstop launched the ball far over the center field wall, giving the Purple Eagles their first lead of the game at 3-1.

Viola, who pitched a strong game still had to shut the door on the Stags in the seventh. Viola got the first two batters in order, as a single by Riannon Thomas brought the tying run to the dish with two outs. The senior finished the game off strong, by recording the final out.

Viola pitched the complete game, giving up one run and striking out eight. Teresa Healy went 1-for-2 with an RBI and McDonald went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

The Purple Eagles head back to the diamond on Wednesday, April 16 against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. If you can't be at the game, watch it live here.