LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The Niagara softball team clinched the final berth into Thursday's MAAC Championship with a 5-1 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Rider. The Purple Eagles will be the number four seed after dropping the second game of the twinbill, 3-1.

Niagara (27-17, 9-7 MAAC) entered the series with Rider (16-32, 8-8 MAAC) knowing that one win would guarantee them a place in this weekend’s MAAC Tournament, played in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Purple Eagles clinched a spot with a 5-1 victory in game one.

Junior Jenna Baker (West Seneca, N.Y.) collected three RBIs in the victory, going 2-for-4 with a two-run double in the fourth to put game one out of reach.

Sophomore Michelle Krier (Kenmore, N.Y.) earned the victory on the mound, improving to 9-4 overall. She scattered four hits in 5.0 innings allowing one earned run in the sixth inning. Freshman Patricia Kennery (Williamsville, N.Y.) escaped a jam in the sixth inning and worked a perfect seventh to secure the win.

The Purple Eagles fell in game two, 3-1. The Broncs scored two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth, off of relief pitcher Katie Gleiser (Cheektowaga, N.Y.), to erase Niagara’s 1-0 through four innings.

Niagara clinched the fourth seed after five tie-breakers were used. The Purple and White beat out Marist for the final spot due to their season sweep of Siena. The end results mean Niagara will face Fairfield on Thursday. The two teams split their regular season meeting this season; Niagara took game one, 6-1, and lost game two 3-2 on April 18.