CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Niagara softball team will start the 2012 season by participating in the 2012 Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial hosted by the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga this weekend.

The Purple Eagles are one of 12 teams in the classic, including the host Mocs, Ball State, Cleveland State, Purdue, Troy and Valparaiso.

Niagara begins the classic with University of Tennessee-Martin on Friday morning and against the Mocs, a five-time defending Southern Conference champion, in the afternoon. The Purple Eagles take on Purdue and Valparaiso on Saturday, before finishing the weekend against East Tennessee State on Sunday.

Back for this season is junior catcher and 2012 All-MAAC Preseason selection Becky Zill, who had a .344 batting average a year ago, along with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. Also returning for one more season is senior infielder Jennifer Hare, a 2012 All-MAAC Preseason selection that  earned career-highs in batting average (.310), hits (39), doubles (5), home runs (6) and RBIs (23) last year. 

On the mound, Niagara will have seniors Bri Allen, Julie DiMatteo and  sophomore Kim Bryson pitching the majority of innings. Bryson will look to have an even better second season, after earning a 9-9 record with a 3.15 earned-run average and 114 strikeouts as a rookie.

Following this weekend, Niagara is back on the road to participate in the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retriever Classic, the first of consecutive weekends spent in Baltimore.