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BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Niagara softball team earned a 1-0 shutout before falling 2-1 in game two of a Thursday MAAC doubleheader against Canisius.

Niagara 1, Canisius 0

Senior Alexis Wayne's RBI double in the top of the first was all the offense Niagara (5-25, 2-6 MAAC) would need to take game one of the doubleheader versus Canisius (18-15, 3-3 MAAC) Thursday afternoon, 1-0.

The last time Niagara shut out Canisius on the road was April 27, 2011 with a 1-0 win in the front of a doubleheader. During that game, senior Becky Zill hit a solo homer in the top of the sixth to help lift the Purple Eagles to victory.

Two years later, it was Zill who would again cross home plate to give the Purple and White the run it would need to win the game. While sprinting to first to beat out the throw, Zill advanced to second on error to put herself in scoring position. With two outs, Wayne smacked a double to center field and drove in what would prove to be the winning run.

Junior Brittany Richberg and sophomore Desarae Maldonado each added a base hit in the win.

Junior Jennifer Sansano allowed just two hits and struck out eight batters in seven innings to earn her second shutout of the season.

Canisius 2, Niagara 1

The tying run was left on second base as the Purple Eagles fell in the night-cap to Canisius, 2-1.

Facing a 2-0 deficit in the seventh inning with a runner on third, senior Gabrielle Lustrinelli's RBI single brought Niagara within one run of lead. Sophomore Ambur Farmer advanced Lustrinelli to second, but Niagara would ground out to end the inning and fall short of the rally.

Zill went 2-for-3 in the game, giving her 27 hits on the season. Junior Kim Bryson drew the loss, and combined with Sansano to strike out five batters and allow seven hits.

Following the end of the game, Niagara joined Canisius and its fans in a moment of reflection in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy and West Texas explosion.

The Purple Eagles return to the diamond this weekend with back-to-back MAAC doubleheaders against Saint Peter’s on Saturday following by Manhattan on Sunday. First pitch for both days is set for 12 p.m.