Live Stats | SLAMphoma Info

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (7-18; 0-0 MAAC) will begin Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this weekend by hosting the two-time defending conference champion Iona Gaels (19-16; 2-0 MAAC) and the Fairfield Stags (18-21; 1-3 MAAC).

Niagara's series against Iona will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, due to inclement weather. Sunday's contests against Fairfield will begin as scheduled at noon. 

The Purple Eagles enter this weekend on a three-game winning streak, having defeated Cleveland State 10-0 and Mount St. Mary's in a doubleheader by scores of 2-1 and 4-1. 

Niagara is led by junior Sarah Anthon, who has a .289 batting average and five doubles. Last week in the 10-0 win over Cleveland State, the Lancaster, N.Y. product hit three doubles, tying Niagara's single-game doubles mark. Anthon is currently on a four-game hitting streak, the longest by a Purple Eagle so far this season.

In the circles, Niagara looks to get quality innings out of senior Julie DiMatteo and sophomore Kim Bryson. DiMatteo has a 3-3 record to go with her 3.07 earned-run average. The Maine native threw a complete game, one-hitter against Mount St. Mary's last weekend, including a stretch where she retired 20 consecutive batters to help Niagara to the 2-1 victory. 

Bryson has also been pitching well for the Purple Eagles, leading the team with 82 strikeouts.

Iona is led by Eileen McCann and Jodi Petersen. McCann currently has a .374 batting average to go with her five home runs and 11 RBIs, while Petersen has a team-leading 37 hits and 15 RBIs. 

The Gaels are led by a strong one-two pitching combination in Sarah Jackson and Alyssa Maiese. Jackson has a stingy 1.64 earned-run average including five shutouts, while Maiese has a 1.86 earned-run average and a shutout to her credit.

Fairfield is paced by Kristen Filicia, who currently has a .317 batting average along with eight doubles and 10 RBIs. Alli Wigand provides additional offensive support, with a .299 batting average and seven doubles.

On the mound for Fairfield will likely be Rebecca Trott, who enters the weekend with a 2.60 earned-run average and 91 strikeouts. 

Following the doubleheader against the Stags on Sunday, Niagara will stage its second annual SLAMphoma event. This year's home run derby will benefit Kaely Kwitek, an Orchard Park High School student who was recently diagnosed with stage-four anaplastic large cell lymphoma. For donation details and how the event works, please click on the link at the top of the page.

Following this weekend's games, Niagara begins a stretch of 12 games where 10 of them are away from Monteagle Ridge. The Purple Eagles begin their tough 12-game stretch against Big Four rival Buffalo at 3 p.m. on April 18.