Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Niagara softball team dropped both contests on day two of Rebel Spring Game action, falling to Saint Francis (Pa.) in extra innings before being outlasted by Tennessee-Martin Friday afternoon.

Saint Francis (Pa.) 7, Niagara 6

Two doubles in the top of the eighth inning gave the Purple Eagles (3-12) a two run lead, but a walk-off two RBI single led the Pioneers (9-6) past Niagara, 7-6.

“This game was a heartbreaker for us,” said head coach Ellie Chan. We put a lot of energy and emotion into that game and almost pulled off a great comeback. The girls battled hard but we came up a bit short, which was frustrating to all of us.”

Facing a four run deficit after the fifth, sophomore Desarae Maldonado cracked a two run homer before junior Connal Kelly drove in the third run of inning, closing the gap to just 3-4.

Junior Kim Bryson held the Pioneers scoreless in the seventh, setting up her team to force extra innings with just one run needed. With her fourth at-bat of the game, senior Becky Zill tripled to right center field, and was brought home by the following batter, tying the game, 4-4.

With the go-ahead run on third, senior Gabrielle Lustrinelli doubled to right center to give Niagara its first lead of the game. Following a strike out, sophomore Amanda Werth doubled to drive home Lustrinelli, putting the Purple Eagles up 6-4.

The comeback fell short in the bottom half of the eighth, and three runs by St. Francis (Pa.) gave the Pioneers the victory.

University of Tennessee at Martin 6, Niagara 1

A four run fifth inning gave Tennessee-Martin (13-6) the edge over the Purple Eagles, 6-1.

Werth put the Purple Eagles up early after an RBI single, but the lead was not held for long. UTC tied the score in the following inning, but were
held to just two hits in the next two frames.

It was the fifth inning when the UTC offense broke open, adding four runs to take a three run lead in the contest. The Skyhawks would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh and would hold on to secure the win.

“UTM is a very good hitting team, however we could have done a better job at the plate than we did.”

Overall, Chan leaves Florida optimistic about her team’s outlook for the remainder of the season.

“This trip has been extremely productive,” said Chan. “Of course, I would like to be going home with more wins, but it has been a learning experience and we have made strides. We have played some very tough competition. There were definitely games though that we could have won and did not. At this point, we need to piece it together, get on the winning track, and stay there. These girls have what it takes.”

Niagara next travels to Dover, Del. to participate in the Hornet Invitation with games against St. Bonaventure, Delaware State, and Mt. St. Mary’s March 16-17.