Vs. Iona - Game One
Vs. Iona - Game Two

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (8-19; 1-1 MAAC) split its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against the two-time defending MAAC champion Iona Gaels (20-17; 3-1 MAAC) on Saturday afternoon. Niagara shutout the Gaels 1-0 in the opening game, before dropping game two by a 3-0 margin.

"I thought we played two good MAAC games today," head coach Al Dirschberger said. "Both teams played well defensively. In the first game we got the timely hits, where in the second game, Iona got the timely hits."

Niagara 1, Iona 0
Niagara earned its first conference win of the season in a tightly-contested game against Iona. Freshman Ambur Farmer broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the sixth inning, hitting a lead-off home run over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. 

Senior pitcher Julie DiMatteo kept Iona at bay in the complete game win, throwing five strikeouts and allowing four hits for her third consecutive win. Of the last 48 batters the Maine product faced, she has allowed six of them to reach base. 

Iona 3, Niagara 0
Iona pitcher Alyssa Maiese gave Niagara troubles in game two, until junior Becky Zill broke her perfect game with a bloop single in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Sophomore pitcher Kim Bryson allowed three runs in the complete game loss, including a run in each of the first three innings. 

Sophomore Jessica Hitchcock had Niagara's other hit in game two, extending her consecutive reached base streak to six games. 

Niagara is back in action on Sunday, when it hosts Fairfield in a doubleheader, beginning at noon. Immediately following the doubleheader, the Purple Eagles will host the second annual SLAMphoma event, with the money raised to benefit Kaely Kwitek.