Kissimmee, Fla. – The Niagara softball team fell to South Dakota, 7-3, and Valparaiso, 4-2, on Saturday to conclude play at the Rebel Spring Games in central Florida.

South Dakota 7, Niagara 3

A five-run third inning by South Dakota propelled the Coyotes to a 7-3 win in Niagara's first game of the day. After the third inning, the Purple Eagles kept USD off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.

A Ally Gay RBI single put Niagara on the board in the bottom of the second as the Purple Eagles trailed 2-1 entering the third.  NU added two more runs in the fifth inning. Amanda Werth, who pitched 2.1 innings, drove in one run on a RBI double and Desarae Maldonado had a sacrifice fly to score the other run.

Niagara 2, Valparaiso, 4

The Purple Eagles' final inning rally fell short against the Valparaiso Crusaders.

Valpo jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and tact on one more run in the fourth to lead 4-0 after four innings.

NU started its charge in the seventh inning. With two runners on base with one out, freshman Taylor Moody doubled to left field to score Katelyn Gruarin and Sarah March to cut the deficit in half, 4-2. Chanelle Ward followed with a single to centerfield as NU had the go-ahead run at bat. However, consecutive ground outs by Werth and Brianna Clark grounded out to end the game.  

Niagara will play at Robert Morris on March 21-22.

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