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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (9-22, 2-2 MAAC) will hit the road this weekend for a pair of critical Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheaders against the Siena Saints (16-21, 4-2 MAAC) and the Marist Red Foxes (20-19, 4-2 MAAC).

Due to inclement weather, the doubleheader against Siena got bumped up to Friday at 3 p.m., while the series against Marist was pushed to Saturday at noon. The Purple Eagles are currently tied for fifth place in the MAAC with Fairfield (4-4) and Canisius (3-3), while one game behind the four-way tie for first place, which includes the Saints and Red Foxes.

Niagara enters this weekend led by sophomore Jessica Hitchcock, who has a four-game hitting streak and has safely made it on base in the last eight games she has played in. Counting just conference games, Hitchcock has a team-leading .417 batting average.

In the circle will likely be senior Julie DiMatteo and sophomore Kim Bryson. DiMatteo enters the weekend with a 4-4 record and a 2.92 earned-run average. Bryson has struck out 106 batters so far this year in 86.2 innings pitched. 

Including just conference games, DiMatteo has a 0.44 earned-run average, having allowed one earned run in 16 innings pitched. Bryson has struck out 22 batters in the three MAAC games she has appeared in, including a career-high 14 strikeouts during a 2-1 win over Fairfield on Monday.

The Saints enter the doubleheader versus Niagara on a nine-game winning streak, led by Shannon Jones and Jessika Sandrini. Jones leads the team in six major statistical categories, including batting average (.452), runs (38), hits (52), home runs (11), RBIs (39) and total bases (99). Sandrini has a .376 batting average, including 10 home runs and 28 RBIs.

In the circle, the Saints rely on the tandem of Amanda Filippazzo and Sandrini. Filippazzo enters the weekend with a 9-9 record, a 2.85 earned-run average and 68 strikeouts. Sandrini  has a 7-11 record, to go with a 2.95 earned-run average and 103 strikeouts.

The Red Foxes have won 10 of their last 12 games, led by Ashley Corriss and Danielle Koltz. Corriss has a team-leading .330 batting average, while Koltz has a .319 batting average and a team-leading 30 RBIs.

Marist will likely send Melanie White and Janine Lalli into the circle to pitch against the Purple Eagles. White is 4-8 with a 3.08 earned-run average, while Lalli has an 8-1 record to go along with her 3.30 earned-run average.  

Following this weekend, Niagara hosts St. Bonaventure in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at Niagara Field.