Niagara (20-16, 4-6 MAAC) was on the wrong side of a 3-1 setback in game one. The Purple Eagles had the first real scoring chance in a scoreless game in the third inning; Kayla Hines (Clifton Park, N.Y.), however, struck out with the bases loaded.  Marist (15-31, 8-6 MAAC) scored all three runs in the fifth inning from two home runs. Lindsey Kinel led off the inning with a homer to centerfield and Melissa Giordano would knock out a two-run home run three batters later.

Senior Heather Lohrman (Newport Beach, Calif.) led off the seventh inning with a home run to put NU on the board. Niagara’s last three batters were retired to end the game.  

The Purple Eagles rallied from behind to win game two after digging themselves in an 8-0 hole after two innings. Niagara responded by batting around in the bottom second. Senior Melissa Markle (Orchard Park, N.Y.) drew a bases loaded walk to start the six run inning. Teresa Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) lined a two RBI single to left field to cut Marist’s lead to 8-6.

NU tied the game at 8-8 with a two-run bomb by Healy in the fourth inning. The Red Foxes would score two in the fifth to regain the lead, 10-8.

The Purple Eagles eventually grabbed control of the game in their half of the fifth. Niagara scored runs on a passed ball and wild pitch off of game one starting pitcher Caitlin Carpentier to tie the game at 10-10. Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine) legged out a triple to deep right field to score the two runs that would put NU up for good.   

Patricia Kennery (Williamsville, N.Y.) pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief work for her first win of the season.

Niagara will host Siena in a doubleheader on Sunday and will honor its seniors on senior day.