GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Niagara softball team (1-3) dropped two games in the UNCG Spartans Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Purple Eagles were blanked, 8-0, by Sacred Heart and was edged, 7-6, by Cleveland State.

Sacred Heart 8, Niagara 0 (5 innings)
Niagara's bats were silenced by Sacred Heart's (1-2) pitcher Jen Russell; she pitched five scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing three hits. The Pioneers jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning on sophomore pitcher Ali Grab who was making her first start of the season.

Niagara put two runners on base in its half of the first, but ended the inning on a double play and a ground out to first. The Purple Eagles would struggle to generate much offense for the rest of the game. The Pioneers pushed across four runs in the third inning to put a clamp on the game.

Niagara 6, Cleveland State 7
The Purple Eagles fell into another first inning hole when Cleveland State (6-3) scored three runs. In Niagara's half of the inning, Jaclyn Russell's two out double scored NU's first run of the game and was her first RBI as a Purple Eagle. 

CSU took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth when a three-run homerun gave the Vikings a 7-1 lead. NU began a four-run rally in the next inning. Sophomore Sarah Anthon, who started the inning with a leadoff walk, stole home on a double steal. A few batters later; junior Kristin Sito hit a home run to left centerfield to score Maggie McDonald and Teresa Healy.

Niagara held CSU scoreless in the sixth inning and entered the seventh down 7-5. Sophomore Jen Hare led off the inning by reaching first on an error. Two batters later, senior Kristin Kill reached on an error which scored freshman Alexis Wayne, who was pinch-runner for Hare. Down by one, senior Laynie Stillman struck out swinging and Healy popped out to the pitcher to end the game.

The Purple Eagles will play in the consolation game on Sunday at 11 a.m. versus the UNCG/Sacred Heart loser.