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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (9-26, 2-6 MAAC) resumes Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, hitting the road to visit the Manhattan Jaspers (6-31, 1-7 MAAC) and the Saint Peter's Peahens (5-38, 1-9 MAAC) this weekend.

The Purple Eagles clash with the Jaspers on Saturday at Noon and they will play the Peahens 24 hours later. Entering the weekend, Niagara sits three games behind Rider (18-25-1, 5-3 MAAC) for the last MAAC Tournament spot. 

Niagara has fared well recently against Saint Peter's and Manhattan. The Purple Eagles have won their last seven games against the Peahens, five of which came on the road. Senior Julie DiMatteo recorded a no-hitter against the Peahens on April 10, 2011. In the last 11 contests against Saint Peter's, Niagara has outscored its MAAC foe by a 114-46 margin.

The Purple Eagles are 8-4 against the Jaspers in their last 12 meetings, including two MAAC Tournament wins. Niagara has outscored Manhattan in its last 12 meetings by a 77-46 margin.

The Purple Eagles are led by senior Jennifer Hare, who has a team-leading .261 batting average, along with 24 hits and 15 RBIs. Becky Zill has been crushing the ball for Niagara, including a team-leading three home runs and 20 RBIs.

In the circle for Niagara will be DiMatteo and sophomore Kim Bryson. DiMatteo has a 2.90 earned-run average in her last seven games, including a 3-3 record. Bryson has a 2.74 earned-run average in her last eight games, including 54 strikeouts. 

Bryson is fresh off of a 15 strikeout performance against Siena, tying Niagara's single-game strikeouts record, set by Joni Sontrop in 1998. Bryson has 126 strikeouts (fourth in the MAAC) on the season, three whiffs short of Sontrop for second place on Niagara's single-season list. The Ohio native has 240 career strikeouts, three behind Brooke Viola for fourth place on Niagara's Career Strikeouts list. 

Manhattan enters the weekend having lost six of its last seven contests. The Jaspers are led by Kate Bowen, who has a .333 batting average, including a team-leading three home runs and 13 RBIs.

In the circle for the Jaspers will likely be Bowen, who has earned the majority of starts. Bowen has a 3-10 record, with a 3.34 earned-run average.

Saint Peter's enters this weekend having lost five of its last six contests. The Peahens are led by Nicole Olmedo and her .309 batting average. Olmedo leads the team with 38 hits, seven home runs and 20 RBIs.

In the circle for Saint Peter's will likely be Erica Colon. Colon enters this weekend with a 6.07 earned-run average and a 1-10 record.

Following this weekend's road trip, Niagara finishes the season with a seven-game homestand, beginning on Tuesday at 1 p.m. against Syracuse.