ELON, N.C. – The Niagara softball team was narrowly clipped in two games at the Phoenix Opening Tournament on Friday to begin its season.

"We competed very well for our first time outside this spring," head coach Larry Puzan said. "We had many positives to build off of."

Niagara 5, Elon 6
The Purple Eagles erased a four-run deficit by scoring five straight runs over three innings, before the host pulled out the win on a walk-off sacrifice fly.

Elon (6-3-1) pushed four runs across home plate to break open the scoring in the third inning. Niagara began its comeback in the fifth inning by scoring twice. NU got on the scoreboard when Katelyn Gruarin doubled to send home Ambur Farmer from first. Amanda Werth followed with her first of three RBIs in the game by driving home Gruarin on a single to left field.

NU entered the final frame still trailing by two. The first three batters reached base to start the inning which set-up another RBI opportunity for Werth who singled up the middle to tie drive in two runs to tie the game at 4-4. Niagara took its first lead of the game when Gruarin scored on Aileen Hinton's fielder's choice as NU led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Niagara was one out away from stealing a win. The Phoenix had runners on second and third when Carey Million drove home the game-tying run on a single.

In the eighth inning, NU went hitless and failed to score a run which opened the door for Elon which won the game on a sacrifice fly.

Jennifer Sansano, the reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Year, allowed six hits, five runs and struck out two in six innings to get a no decision.

Niagara 1, UMBC 3

Niagara (0-2) notched eight hits for the second straight game, but two costly errors made an impact in its second game of the day.

Niagara had a strong performance in the circle from Kim Bryson, who pitched all six innings while striking out five and allowing three unearned runs.

NU fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but kept UMBC (3-2) off the scoreboard over the next four innings.  The Purple Eagles tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth inning from a Bridget Hogan RBI double. However, in the bottom of the inning the Retrievers scored two decisive runs. The first came on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and the second on a sacrifice fly.

NU left two runners on base in the seventh inning as it comeback bid fell short.

The Purple Eagles continue play at the Phoenix Opening Tournament on Saturday against St. Joseph's at 10 a.m.