NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Sophomore pitcher Julie DiMatteo tossed a no-hitter en route to picking up two wins as Niagara swept Rider, 8-0 and 12-0, in a MAAC doubleheader on Saturday at Niagara Field.

"We did a great job attacking the ball and made some great defensive plays against a very good Rider team," head coach Al Dirschberger said.

Rider 0, Niagara 8

Niagara (14-14, 6-2 MAAC) cruised to the sweep beginning with a no-hitter by DiMatteo in game one. The Purple Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with RBIs from Teresa Healy and Jen Hare. Niagara added four more runs in the second on a two RBI single by Healy, and RBIs from Jenna Baker and Hare.

Niagara took a 7-0 lead into the fifth inning with DiMatteo continuing to mow down Broncs batters. DiMatteo retired Rider (11-26-1, 4-4 MAAC) in order to end the fifth; it would be the last time Rider would bat.

The Purple Eagles, needing one more run to end the game,  had two runners on base with two outs when Healy was intentionally walk to load the bases. Baker stepped up and hit  a single up the middle to score Kristin Kill from third to have the game called at 8-0.  

DiMatteo earned her first-ever no-hitter as a Purple Eagle. She finished with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings to win her eighth game of the season.

Rider 0, Niagara 12

Healy and Krisitn Sito combined for seven RBIs in game two as the Purple Eagles made quick work of the Broncs to wrap up the doubleheader sweep. Niagara jumped out in front again in the first inning. Three of the first four batters were hit by pitch to load the bases. Sito singled home the first of three runs in the inning; Hare followed with a walk and Becky Zill single to right center.  

The Purple Eagles increased their lead in the second inning with a two-run homer by Healy, her sixth of the season. Niagara put the game away with a seven-run fourth inning as it batted around the order. Sito drove home two runs to get the scoring started. Zill, Kayla Hines and Kill all followed with RBIs.  The final runs came from the bat of Healy, who scored two runs with a single to right field, for her seventh RBI of the day.

Senior pitcher Cassie Stone, with the help of a great defensive play by Gabrielle Lustrinelli, shut down the Broncs in the fifth to end the game. Stone went 2.0 innings, struck out two and allowed one hit after she replaced DiMatteo who went 3.0 innings with two strikeouts.

Niagara combined for 20 runs and 23 hits while holding Rider to zero runs and three hits.

The Purple Eagles will make a mid-week out of conference trip to Ohio to face Akron on Wednesday and Youngstown State on Thursday.