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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (12-27, 5-7 MAAC) will play a huge Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Canisius Golden Griffins (15-28, 7-5 MAAC) on Wednesday.
The Purple Eagles are currently on a three-game winning streak after defeating Manhattan in the second game of their doubleheader on Saturday and sweeping Saint Peter's a day later. Niagara enters this pivotal series two games back of Canisius and Rider (20-29-1, 7-5 MAAC), who are tied for the last MAAC Tournament spot. Niagara and Canisius have split the regular season series the last three seasons.
The two teams will also be playing a huge series in the Battle of the Bridge standings, the year long rivalry series that spans all sports that Niagara competes against Canisius in. The 2011-12 series is currently tied at 14.5, with each game of Wednesday's doubleheader counting as one point.
Senior Jaclyn Russell and junior Alexis Wayne have had hot bats for Niagara as of late. Against Manhattan and Saint Peter's, Russell had a .667 batting average (6-for-9), while Wayne had a .429 batting average (6-for-14) with three home runs and nine RBIs. Wayne tied Niagara's single-game RBIs record during a 10-0 win over Saint Peter's, with a pair of three-run home runs.
Sophomore Kim Bryson has been pitching well for Niagara as of late, going 2-0 last weekend in her two starts, with a 1.00 earned-run average. The Ohio native is 38 strikeouts away from Niagara's single-season strikeout record, held by Joni Sontrop (178). Bryson is currently tied for 22nd nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (8.6).
Canisius enters this huge doubleheader having won five of its last seven games, including a split against Marist this past weekend.
The Golden Griffins are led by Lauren Falzone and Lizzy Gatto. Falzone has a team-leading .317 batting average, while Gatto leads the Golden Griffins with six home runs and is tied for the team-lead with 23 RBIs.
In the circle for Canisius will likely be Jen Consaul and Corrine Schaus. Consaul enters the doubleheader with an 8-9 record and a 2.88 earned-run average, while Schaus has a 2-2 record and a 2.98 earned-run average.
Following Wednesday's doubleheader, Niagara will take on Rider in another pivotal MAAC series on Saturday at home, before finishing up the regular season against Binghamton at Niagara Field on Sunday.
