NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University softball team (19-19; 7-3 MAAC) was swept via scores of 6-1 and 3-1 by Canisius (26-11; 10-0 MAAC) in front of 350 fans at Niagara Field on Saturday afternoon.

Niagara hung tough with the best team in the MAAC, which head coach Al Dirschberger is excited about as his team heads into the stretch run.

"We played two good games today," stated Dirschberger. "A few mistakes hurt us today and you can't have that against a team like Canisius."

Canisius 6, Niagara 1
Niagara started the game just the way they had wanted to, by taking the 1-0 advantage. After Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) was hit by a pitch to start the game, she moved over to third in time to score off of a batted ball by Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.).

Niagara pitcher Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) was strong against Canisius until the third inning. The Golden Griffins broke through for three runs to take a 3-1 lead in the inning. Canisius would add three more runs in the final three innings of play, as Niagara only managed three hits, with two of them coming in the final three innings.

Canisius 3, Niagara 1 (9)
Niagara dropped a thrilling back and forth game to the Golden Griffins 3-1. It was Canisius that struck first in this game, scoring in the third to take the 1-0 lead. The Purple Eagles found the equalizer in the sixth inning, as Teresa Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) came around on Maggie McDonald's (Cicero, N.Y.) single to left field.

The game continued gridlocked at one until the Golden Griffins broke through in the ninth. Canisius plated two runs to take a 3-1 lead, one that Niagara couldn't tie.

McDonald went 2-for-3 in the second game, pushing her hitting streak to 16 games. Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) pitched 8.1 innings, allowing three runs.

The wins by Canisius clinch the Canal Cup for the Golden Griffins for the first time. Last season, Niagara won the Battle of the Bridge, 24-10. With four points still up for grabs, Canisius leads 19-11.

The Purple Eagles head back to the diamond on Wednesday, as they travel to take on the University at Buffalo, with first pitch slated at 3 p.m. If you can't be at the game, follow it here.