CANFIELD, OHIO - Niagara concluded its mid-week Ohio trip with a split against the Youngstown State Penguins on Wednesday afternoon at McCune Park. The Purple Eagles scored 22 runs in two games; losing 15-10 in game one and winning 12-2 in game two to earn the split.

Niagara 10, Youngstown State 15

Niagara scored one run in the first inning to start the high scoring affair. YSU responded in its half of the inning by scoring eight runs, including a grand slam. The Purple Eagles, however, worked themselves back into the game and eventually took the lead by the fifth inning.

Niagara scored two runs in the second inning on a Kristin Sito RBI single to centerfield. In the third inning, Alexis Wayne and Sito each drove home two runs in a four-run inning by Niagara to cut the lead to 8-7. The Purple Eagles continued the comeback in the fifth inning. Senior Kristin Kill's RBI single scored Garbrielle Lustrinelli from second base to tie the game at 8-8. The next batter, Sito, followed with a two-run homer to left field to give Niagara a 10-8 lead.

However, the lead was short-lived. The Penguins scored four runs in the fifth inning, three runs in the sixth inning and held NU scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings to win the game, 15-10. YSU hit six home runs in the game, with three coming from Haley Thomas.

Sito went 4-for-4 and set a school single game record with six RBIs.  

Niagara 12, Youngstown State 2

Niagara's bats stayed hot in game two and it got off to a blistering start in the first inning. The Purple Eagles put the first five batters on base and score three runs. Kayla Hines and Baker each had hits to score one run, while Niagara also benefited from three Penguins errors to score more four runs in a nine run first inning.

The Purple Eagles took a 9-2 lead into the fifth and added more runs in the inning. Hines doubled to left field to score Jaclyn Russell, and Sito singled to centerfield to drive home two more runs.

Four Purple Eagles finished with multiple hits and RBIs; Baker went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Hines went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Healy and Sito both went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Starting pitcher Julie DiMatteo cruised to her fifth-straight win; DiMatteo struck out five in the five-inning complete game.

Niagara returns to Monteagle Ridge for conference series against Iona and Fairfield this weekend.