Game One Vs. Manhattan Box Score | Game Two Vs. Manhattan Box Score

RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (10-27, 3-7 MAAC) split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Manhattan Jaspers (7-32, 2-8 MAAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Jaspers won game one by a 12-4 score, while the Purple Eagles took the second game by a 10-2 margin.

Manhattan 12, Niagara 4
After the Jaspers took a two-run lead in the bottom of the first inning, Niagara responded in the top of the third inning for a 3-2 lead. With one out and the bases loaded, junior Becky Zill hit a RBI single, senior Jennifer Hare brought in a run by drawing a walk and junior Alexis Wayne hit a RBI single for the one-run Niagara lead.

Manhattan would outscore Niagara by a 10-1 margin throughout the rest of the game, including a four-run sixth inning, which ended the game via mercy rules. 

Wayne went 2-for-3 at the plate in game one, while Zill had two RBIs. Senior Julie DiMatteo went the distance for Niagara in the loss, striking out six batters in 5.2 innings pitched. 

The Maine native now has 322 career strikeouts, six behind Tiffany McCrory (328) for second place on Niagara's Career Strikeout list. 

Niagara 10, Manhattan 2
The Jaspers scored two runs off of Niagara starter Kim Bryson for a 2-0 lead, striking once in the first inning and again in the third inning. A throwing error allowed Manhattan to take a 1-0 lead after an inning of play, while an RBI single in the third inning doubled the lead. 

Niagara would make it a one run game in the top of the fifth inning, when senior pinch-hitter Ali Grab hit a RBI single, scoring freshman Ambur Farmer from third base. 

The Purple Eagles would blow the game wide open an inning later, exploding for seven runs on six hits. Hare would hit a one-out double, coming around to score on Wayne's two-run home run to put Niagara in the lead for the first time in game two.

Following the two-run blast, Farmer hit a double to center field and freshman Amanda Arendt singled for runners on the corners. Farmer stole home for a 4-2 Niagara lead, while freshman Katelyn Gruarin was hit by a pitch, awarding her first base. A single by sophomore Brittany Richberg would set the bases loaded stage for sophomore Jessica Hitchcock.

Hitchcock sent a towering shot over the center field wall for a grand slam, giving Niagara an 8-2 lead. 

Arendt would finish the game off with her first career home run in the top of the seventh inning, a two-run shot for a 10-2 lead.

Hitchcock, Wayne and Arendt all finished game two by going 2-for-4 at-bat, with a combined eight RBIs.  

Bryson finished the game with eight strikeouts, pushing her into second place on Niagara's Single-Season Strikeout list with 134. The sophomore is now just 44 strikeouts behind Joni Sontrop (178) for the most strikeouts in a season by a Niagara pitcher.

The Ohio native now has 248 career strikeouts, passing Brooke Viola for fourth place on Niagara's Career Strikeout list.

The Purple Eagles finish their final road trip of the 2012 regular season on Sunday, when they take on the Saint Peter's Peahens.