Vs. Canisius Game One Box Score | Vs. Canisius Game Two Box Score | Battle of the Bridge Standings

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara softball team (12-29; 5-9 MAAC) dropped a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader to the Canisius Golden Griffins (17-28, 9-5 MAAC) on Wednesday afternoon at Niagara Field.

The Golden Griffins won game one by a 4-3 margin, while clinching the 2011-12 Battle of the Bridge rivalry series victory with the 3-2 win in game two. Canisius leads the rivalry series 16.5 to 14.5 with two points remaining and holds the tiebreaker by virtue of being the defending champions. 

"Today we encountered two tough games," head coach Al Dirschberger said. "We had our chances to win both games today, but we didn't get the timely hits when we needed them."

The doubleheader sweep knocked the Purple Eagles out of contention for a spot in the 2012 MAAC Tournament.

Canisius 4, Niagara 3 (10 Innings)
Despite several chances to end the game, the Purple Eagles fell in game one by a 4-3 score. In the top of the 10th inning, Valorie Nappo hit a two-out single off of Purple Eagles starter Kim Bryson that brought around Lizzy Gatto for the game-winning run.

Niagara's first chance to win the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning, when a base hit to right field by senior Jennifer Hare pushed freshman Ambur Farmer around third base and charging towards home. A perfect throw from Golden Griffins right fielder Lauren Falzone was in time, so catcher Stephanie Pfentner could tag Farmer at home.

Two innings later, Niagara got the first two batters of the frame, sophomores Brittany Richberg and Jessica Hitchcock on base via a single and an attempted sacrifice bunt that eluded the drawn in infield for a base hit. The Purple Eagles would even load the bases with a two-out walk to Hare, but they couldn't cash in. 

After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, the Purple Eagles scored three consecutive runs on a RBI single by Hare in the bottom of the first inning and by a towering two-run home run over the centerfield by Hare in the bottom of the third inning.

Niagara couldn't hold onto its 3-1 lead, as its cross-town rivals would tack on a run in the fourth inning and the sixth inning to tie the game at three. 

Bryson went the distance for Niagara, striking out five batters in the loss.

Hare went 3-for-4 in game one with three RBIs, while Richberg went 3-for-3.

Canisius 3, Niagara 2
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Golden Griffins use a combination of walks from starting pitcher Bri Allen and a timely hit from Katie Medina to gain a 3-0 lead. After a third of an inning pitched, Bryson entered game two, shutting down the Golden Griffins over the final 5.2 innings, allowing no runs and four hits while striking out four.

The Purple Eagles would claw their way back into the game starting in the bottom of the third inning. Hitchcock would get on base via an error and junior Becky Zill would hit an infield single for runners on first and second base with two outs, bringing up Hare. Hare would have to endure a 10 minute rain delay before her at-bat, a RBI single to shortstop.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Niagara would come within one run when Hitchcock scored after Zill put the ball into play, eventually reaching base via a fielder's choice.

With her performance in game one and a single in the first inning of game two, Hitchcock extended her hitting streak to six games, also having safely reached base in the last six games. With her performance on the day, Hare has safely reached base in the last eight games.