NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (5-18) will open the home portion of its 2012 schedule against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (9-22) on Friday at 1p.m. from Niagara Field.

The Purple Eagles will be finishing a span of five games in four days on Friday, fresh off of a 10-0 victory over Cleveland State (8-27). Junior Sarah Anthon smacked three doubles against the Vikings, tying Niagara's single-game doubles record, while senior Julie DiMatteo and sophomore Kim Bryson allowed just three baserunners all game.

Niagara begins its six-game homestand led by Anthon's .281 batting average and junior Becky Zill's team-leading three home runs and 12 RBI's. In the circle, DiMatteo has a team-best 3.47 earned-run average, while Bryson has a team-high 74 strikeouts.

The Purple Eagles lead the series against the Mountaineers by a 3-2 margin, with Friday's games the first contests between the two at Niagara Field.

Following Friday's games, Niagara begins Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play against Iona on April 14 and Fairfield on April 15.