Frost Classic Live Stats (when available)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Niagara softball team starts the 2013 season by participating in the 2013 Frost Classic hosted by the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga this Friday through Sunday, Feb. 22-24.

The Purple Eagles are one of twelve teams competing in the annual tournament, and are accompanied by Tennessee Tech, Northern Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Miami (OH), Boston College, Missouri State, Toledo, Ohio, North Carolina Central and Lipscomb.

NU begins the tournament Friday afternoon with two single -games, first against Tennessee Tech at 1:15 p.m. followed by its second game of the afternoon versus Ohio at 3:30 p.m.

The second day of the tournament matches the Purple Eagles up against two new opponents, with the first coming against North Carolina Central for a 1:15 p.m. start followed by Lipscomb Bison at 3:30 p.m. Niagara finishes the weekend on Sunday at 10 a.m. against Northern Kentucky.

The Purple Eagles return 11 players from the 2012 squad, a program to be led by first-year head coach Ellie Chan. Junior Kim Bryson carries the burden of being the team’s only returning pitcher, and will look to lead the Purple Eagles, slated to finish sixth in the MAAC Preseason Poll. Bryson will be sharing time on the mound with two fresh faces added this season, freshman Sydney Smyers and junior transfer Jennifer Sansano. Sansano went 10-12 as a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University last year, including a no-hitter on March 2, 2012 against Mount St. Mary’s.

Back for her senior season is Becky Zill, who led all Purple Eagles last season in hits (34), RBIs (27), and slugging percentage (.376) and tied for seventh in the conference with a .960 fielding percentage.

Following this weekend, Niagara heads to Florida for double-headers against Stetson (March 1), Bethune-Cookman (March 3) and Michigan State (March 5) before participating in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. March 7