Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara softball team fell twice to the University at Baltimore, Maryland County Retrievers in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon on Senior Day, 7-5 and 4-2. The Purple Eagles drop to 14-28 (9-7 MAAC), while the Retrievers improve to 11-40 (1-17 American East).

Despite the losses, cheers were heard from the Niagara dugout immediately following the end of game two, when news broke that Saint Peter’s had defeated Iona, 13-9, securing a MAAC Tournament bid for the Purple Eagles for the first time since 2010. After beginning conference play at 1-5, NU won 10 out of its last 12 MAAC contests, including seven in a row, to earn a spot in the post season.

UMBC 4, Niagara 2

Miranda Clark struck out 13 batters and allowed two runs on three hits to push UMBC past the Purple Eagles, 4-2.

Junior Brittany Richberg hit 2-for-4 with an RBI for her 15^th multi-hit game of the season.

Facing a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, Niagara threatened the lead with RBI-singles from Richberg and freshman Ally Gay to pull within two. But as she did all game, Clark retired the final batter to secure her third win of the season.

Junior Jennifer Sansano (10-11) drew the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out nine.

UMBC 7, Niagara 5

The Retrievers needed four runs in the final two innings to defeat the Purple Eagles, 7-5.

Senior Becky Zill added three more RBIs to her total for 114 in her career, the third-most in program history. Zill finished 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Niagara put up three quick runs in the first inning. Zill’s double to right field earned her a spot on base while scoring Brittany Richberg and advancing sophomore Katelyn Gruarin to third. After Gruarin scored from an RBI from senior Alexis Wayne, Zill crossed home plate on an error when UMBC’s shortstop overthrew first base trying to throw sophomore Ambur Farmer out.

The Retrievers got themselves back in the game quickly, scoring two runs in the top of the second to cut the Niagara lead, 3-2.

After scoring the tying run in the fourth, UMBC took a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning. A bases loaded two-RBI double scored the runners on second and third, but a big throw from Farmer put Niagara in position to throw the third runner out at home, preventing the three-run lead.

Extending its lead 7-3 in the seventh, Niagara would again chip away at the deficit in the final stanza. Zill, who is hitting .380 with runners on base, knocked a two-RBI single to center field to make it a two-run game. With the tying runs on first and third, Niagara flied out twice to end the inning and fall the nightcap.

The Purple Eagles now have a week to prepare for the MAAC Tournament, taking place in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on the campus of Marist College, May 9-11. Niagara’s opponent will be decided tomorrow after conference play is completed.