Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Niagara softball team split action on day one of its participation in the Rebel Springs games, dropping the first game to Holy Cross, 5-4, before shutting out Sacred Heart 2-0.

Holy Cross 5, Niagara 4

A late rally fell just one run short as the Purple Eagles (3-10) were edged out by Holy Cross (2-5) Thursday afternoon.

Trailing the Crusaders 5-2 in the top of the seventh, a two-run homer from senior Becky Zill with two outs brought Niagara within just one run. Following a pitching change for Holy Cross, the final batter was retired and the Purple Eagles were unable to complete the comeback. Zill finished 2-for-4 on the game.

Junior Brittany Richberg added three hits on four at-bats and crossed the plate twice.

Junior Kim Bryson had a season-high 10 strikeouts in the loss.

The difference in the first game is that we left too many runners on base,” said head coach Ellie Chan. “Holy Cross did a good job of creating opportunities and pushing runs across. We created multiple opportunities but didn't follow through with bringing the runs in. It was a hard one to follow.”
 
Niagara 2, Sacred Heart 0

Junior Jennifer Sansano (3-3) held Sacred Heart (4-7) scoreless through all seven innings, earning Niagara its first shutout victory of the season, 2-0.

As evidence of a defensive battle, both Niagara runs were scored as a result of a Pioneers’ error. The first coming in the second inning when senior Alexis Wayne crossed home plate from second base after senior Gabrielle Lustrinelli reached first on a fielding error. Niagara would score for the second and final time in the third inning after Richberg’s attempt to steal third base resulted in an overthrow, bringing her home and putting the Purple Eagles up, 2-0.

Sansano fanned seven batters while allowing just three hits to earn her third win of the season. Wayne had a game-high two hits in the victory.

“We did a very good job with every part of the game,” said Chan, earning her third victory as a Division I head coach. “Jen once again was brilliant. Our defense was solid and we pushed across a couple of runs which was good enough to secure the win. I am hoping that we finish this trip on a positive note tomorrow with 2 wins. All in all it has been very productive.”

Niagara returns to the diamond tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. to square off against Saint Francis (Pa.) before finishing Rebel Spring Games play against the University of Tennessee at Martin at 11:00 a.m.