NORFOLK, Va. - The Niagara softball team (3-4) picked up two wins in the Spartan Clash hosted by Norfolk State on Saturday. The Purple Eagles outslugged Colgate 14-11 in their first game and rallied past Lafayette, 6-4.

"We did a lot of good things today," head coach Al Dirschberger said. "There are stuff we need to improve on, which will help us as we gel as a team."

Colgate 11, Niagara 14

Niagara scored it most runs in three seasons in its first game in the Spartan Clash. A pair of new Purple Eagles in sophomore Jaclyn Russell and freshman Becky Zill who led the charge for Niagara. The Purple Eagles were trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Russell's two RBIs double jump started the offense. Two batters later, Zill double to score to Russell; Zill would later score on a passed ball.

The Purple Eagles followed that four run second inning with a seven run third inning, highlighted by another Zill RBI and a two-run RBI by Teresa Healy. Niagara would score two more runs in the fourth to take a 14-8 lead. The Raiders hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, but its rally fell short.

Zill went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs and went Russell went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one run. Senior Jenna Baker went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run. Sophomore pitcher Julie DiMatteo earned her first win of the season.

Lafayette 4, Niagara 6

Niagara took an early 2-0 lead from RBI singles by Baker and Zill and the first inning and had that 2-0 lead until the fourth inning. The Leopards pushed four runs past home plate to take a 4-2 lead. The Purple Eagles rallied in the fourth and fifth inning.

Kristin Sito scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-3. In the fifth inning, Kristin Kill drove home the game tying run. Sito followed with a two RBI single to centerfield to give Niagara a 6-4 lead.

Senior pitcher Cassie Stone held the Leopards scoreless in the next two innings and kept Lafayette to one baserunner.

Niagara plays Lafayette on Sunday at 9 a.m.