BUFFALO., N.Y. – The Niagara University softball team (21-19; 7-3 MAAC) swept the University at Buffalo Bulls (5-29; 2-10 MAC) in non-conference action at Nan Harvey Field on Wednesday afternoon via 10-7 and 5-1 scores.

Head coach Al Dirschberger saw his team play two solid games against a cross town rival.

"We played well today," stated Dirschberger. "We now need to build off this momentum we gained as we head into the final stretch of league games."

Niagara 10, Buffalo 7
Niagara drew first blood in game one, as after Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz.) drew a leadoff walk, Kristin Sito (Elyria, Ohio) launched her sixth home run of the year down the left field line for the 2-0 advantage. Niagara continued the inning with Teresa and Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) getting on base, with Teresa eventually coming around on Heather Lohrman’s (Newport Beach, Calif.) single to center field.

Coffey was brewing good things again for the Purple Eagles along with teammate Sito in the second. Coffey got on again as she was hit by a pitch, which was promptly followed by Sito’s second tape measure shot of the day, this time over the left center field wall to give Niagara the 5-0 lead. Later in the inning, Maggie McDonald (Cicero, N.Y.) singled to extend her hitting streak to 17 games. Niagara led 6-0 after two innings.

The Bulls stormed back in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring five runs to cut Niagara’s lead to 7-6. The Purple Eagles added three more in the sixth inning to push the score to 10-6, before the Bulls added one more in the bottom of the seventh. Sito went 3-for-4, with two homeruns and four RBIs.

Niagara 5, Buffalo 1
Niagara started off the second game much like the first, putting up two runs. Teresa Healy singled to score Sito, to make it 1-0. Healy would end up scoring on McDonald’s single to make it 2-0. McDonald’s single extends her hit streak to 18 games.

Buffalo cut into the lead in the third inning on consecutive doubles, making the score 2-1 through three innings of play. Just an inning later, Coffey’s single to the outfield got past the right fielder, allowing her to advance to third base. A sharply hit ball by Sito allowed Coffey to come around, making the score 3-1. Niagara added two more runs throughout the game, including Coffey’s seventh home run of the season.

Michelle Krier (Kenmore, N.Y.) earned the win for the Purple Eagles, allowing just one run. McDonald went 3-for-4 with an RBI. The Purple Eagles head back to the diamond this weekend, as they travel to take on MAAC foes Marist and Siena on Saturday and Sunday.