Live Stats

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Several days of soaking rain has forced the Niagara softball team to reschedule home conference play, which is set to begin this weekend. Competition starts with a doubleheader against Marist on Sunday, April 14, followed by a second twinbill against Siena on Monday, April 15, which was originally scheduled for Saturday.

The Purple Eagles (3-20, 0-2 MAAC) are coming off a home opening series in which they dropped both games of a doubleheader to Buffalo, 8-0 and 1-0. Brittany Richberg recorded her eighth multi-hit game of the season during the second game, the most of any Purple Eagle in 2013. The junior’s team-leading 24 hits are already a career-best, with 25 games remaining in the season.

Jennifer Sansano has been stellar in the circle for Niagara this season, giving up just 29 earned runs in 70.1 innings for an ERA of 2.89. She currently sits in first place among MAAC pitchers with lowest opposing batting average (.260) and third in strike outs (62).

Siena (8-19, 0-2 MAAC) lost 11 of its last 12 games before combining for 25 runs to sweep Holy Cross at home on Tuesday. The Saints are led by sophomore Paige Lloyd, who has a batting-average of .373 including 22 hits while compiling 14 RBIs and three home runs for a team-high slugging percentage of .644.

Last season, Niagara was swept by the Saints in Loudonville, N.Y., losing 6-1 and 2-0 in the outing. Current junior Kim Bryson struck out 15 batters in the game two loss, tying the program’s single game record.

Marist (13-15, 2-0 MAAC) has won five consecutive games entering the weekend. Defense is a strong-point for the Red Foxes, with the team turning a league-high 15 double plays and owning the second-best fielding percentage in the MAAC (.963).

In the circle, the Purple Eagles will face the reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Week in senior Emily Osterhaus, who holds a 2.06 ERA with an opposing batting average of .271.