GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Niagara softball team started its 2010 campaign playing two games as a part of the UNCG Spartans Classic in Greensboro, N.C. The Purple Eagles fell to the Cleveland State Vikings, 5-3, in eight innings in their season opener, but rebounded with a 3-2 win over the host, the UNCG Spartans.

"We played very well today, especially for the first time on the field," head coach Al Dirschberger said. "We did a lot of things well, made some minor mistakes that can easily be fixed. We improved each inning and I'm pleased with our progress."

Cleveland State 5, Niagara 3 (8 innings)
Sophomore catcher Jen Hare scored Niagara's first run of the season with a solo home run to left field for a 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Vikings (3-4) would scored two runs in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead.

Niagara tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning when senior outfield Kristin Kill drove home her first RBI of the day with a single to right field to score Kristin Sito from third base.

The game went into extra innings when the Vikings pushed three runs across home plate in the top of the eighth inning. Trailing by three, the Purple Eagles pulled one back with another RBI single by Kill; the next two batters for Niagara grounded out to end the game.

Kill went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the game; sophomore pitcher Julie DiMatteo pitched all eight innings and struck out four. 

UNCG 2, Niagara 3
Junior Maggie McDonald belted a lead off first inning homer to tie the game at 1-1. Niagara (1-1) scored two key runs in the third inning. With two runners on, Sito singled to left field to drive home Teresa Healy. Hare would score, one batter later, on a fielding error by the third baseman to give the Purple Eagles a 3-1 lead.

Senior pitcher Cassie Stone kept the Spartans off of the scoreboard for five-straight innings. UNCG (3-7) scored a late run in the seventh to cut the lead to 3-2, but Stone got the last two batters out to end the game.

Stone went seven innings, allowed five hits, two earned runs and two strike outs.

Niagara will play its third game of the season and of the Spartans Classic against Sacred Heart tomorrow.