RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (11-13, 4-2 MAAC) played a pair of closely contested games against the Manhattan Lady Jaspers (14-16, 2-4 MAAC) to earn a doubleheader split on Sunday morning. Niagara succumbed to a walk off home run to lose game one, 3-1, but rebounded with a sixth inning rally to defeat the Lady Jaspers, 2-0, in game two.

Niagara 1, Manhattan 3
Solid pitching by Julie DiMatteo (6-3) and Manhattan's Erika Sullivan to go along with good defense by both teams prevented many scoring chances. Manhattan scored the game's first run on a sacrifice fly in the second inning.  Maggie McDonald brought Niagara leveled with a solo home run in the fourth inning

Niagara left five runners on base in the final three innings, including two in the seventh, as the game remained tied at 1-1. The Lady Jaspers would take advantage in their half of the seventh; Melissa  Donnelly hit a two-run homer to give Manhattan a walk off 3-1 win.

Niagara 2, Manhattan 0
The game remained scoreless entering the sixth inning and Niagara used a two out rally to score two go-ahead runs. Kristin Kill drew a walk and McDonald singles to left field to set up a RBI double by Teresa Healy. 

The Purple Eagles defense was clutched in the bottom of the inning. The Lady Jaspers twice had the bases loaded, but failed to score any runs. 

Cassie Stone, who improved to 5-7 on the season, shut down Manhattan in the seventh inning to end the game. Stone had a complete-game with three strike outs and eight hits. 

Niagara will play a mid-week contest at Big 4 rival Buffalo on Wednesday at 3 p.m.