NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team split a non-conference series against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (13-15; 7-3 A-10) as the Bonnies took game one 10-6, while freshman Michelle Krier (Kenmore, N.Y.) earned her first collegiate victory via a 8-7 margin.

Head coach Al Dirschberger knows his team can play well, its just a matter of putting it all together to string some victories together.

"I thought overall we played well today," stated Dirschberger. "While there were good things, there were also some things we need to work on. We need to stay focused."

St. Bonaventure 10, Niagara 6
The Bonnies struck quickly, scoring four times before Niagara even had its at-bats. The brown and white would maintain control of this contest until the fourth inning, as they held a 5-1 lead. To begin the fourth inning, both Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Jenna Baker (West Seneca, N.Y.) reached via error, as they would score on Maggie McDonald's (Cicero, N.Y.) single to left center field. With the score 5-3, Heather Lohrman (Newport Beach, Calif.) also singled to left field, bringing around McDonald to cut the lead to one. Later in the inning, Jamie Constantz (Endicott, N.Y.) singled in Lohrman to tie the game at five.

Things were looking up for the Purple Eagles as they looked to break the gridlock in the sixth inning. Lohrman drew a walk, advancing to second and third on a sacrifice by Katie Gleiser (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) and a Constantz putout. Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz) and her MAAC leading batting average improved as she smacked a double to left center, giving Niagara the 6-5 lead.

The Bonnies answered Niagara's one run in the top of the seventh inning with five unanswered runs to seal the victory.  Coffey and Teresa Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) both went 2-for-4 during game one.

Niagara 8, St. Bonaventure 7 (9)
With a close game between these two teams already in the books, the second one would be no different. With the score 4-1 and the Purple Eagles heading into the fifth inning, their offensive power surged. Kristin Sito (Elyria, Ohio) smacked a double to left center, followed by a single by Teresa Healy for runners on the corners with one out. Tory Healy then doubled to right center field, scoring two to make it 4-3. With Tory on third base via a Baker putout, a McDonald single tied the game at four.

The Bonnies would add two runs in the top of the sixth inning, holding a 6-4 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh. With three outs remaining, the Purple Eagles responded in style. Sito led off the inning with her fifth home run of the season, which sailed over the right field wall to cut the lead to 6-5. Teresa Healy, representing the tying run then blasted a double. After Tory Healy was retired, Baker hit a single, advancing to second and scoring Teresa Healy to tie the game.

The game headed into extra innings gridlocked at six. The contest was played under international rules, meaning that a runner is placed at second base to start the inning. Both teams took little time to adjust to the quirk in the game.  The Bonnies posted a run in the top of the eighth, putting Niagara against the wall again.

A Gleiser sacrifice bunt moved the runner placed at second base, which was Laynie Stillman (Homer, N.Y.) over to third. Stillman would eventually score via Sito's fielders choice to tie the game again at seven. The Bonnies were shutdown by the freshman hurler Krier, who at this point in the game pitched her fourth inning in relief of Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.).

With the score knotted at seven in the bottom of the ninth, Niagara broke through. With Teresa Healy appointed to second base, she advanced to third on a passed ball. With one out, Baker hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Healy, to win the game via a 8-7 margin.

Krier pitched four innings and struck out three for the victory. McDonald extended her hitting streak to 14 games now, while Coffey stretches hers to 12 games with her performance on the day.

The Purple Eagles welcome cross-town rivals Canisius to Niagara Field on Saturday for a showdown between the top two teams in the MAAC. First pitch is set at 12 p.m. If you can't be at the game, follow it live here.