SHIRLEY, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles split a pair of games with the Fairfield Stags on Friday to begin MAAC play. The Purple Eagles fell 8-2 in game one, but earned their first win of the season with a 7-1 in game two.

Niagara 2, Fairfield 8

Niagara freshman Taylor Moody set the table in the first inning with a one out double and eventually scoring on junior Desarae Maldonado single to put Niagara up 1-0. Now trailing by five runs in the fifth inning, sophomore Sarah March had a sacrifice fly scoring Maldonado who reached on a fielder's choice earlier to cut the lead to 6-2.

Junior Sydney Smyers (0-10) made her eleventh start of the season in game one of the doubleheader allowing eight runs on twelve hits and had a game-high five strikeouts in six innings of work.

Fairfield was supported offensively by Sammy Ruffolo, Sam Frungillo, Shelby Butwell and Lauren Filicia with each collecting two RBIs in the victory. Junior right hander Lauren Falkanger started in the circle and worked three innings allowing four hits and one run, before being relieved in the fourth by sophomore Nicole Gardon who pitched an inning and a third. The win went to freshman Destinee Pallotto who came in the fourth and worked 2 2/3 innings.

Niagara 7, Fairfield 1

Niagara (1-19, 1-1 MAAC) got win number one of the season behind junior Taylor Grieger (1-5), who pitched a complete game allowing only one run on six hits while striking out four Stags (3-11, 1-1 MAAC).

The offense again was sparked by Maldonado at the plate who went 4-for-4 with three RBIs. The Purple Eagle bats came alive in the top of the seventh when they scored five of their seven runs. Senior Amada Werth got it started with an RBI, followed by Sophomore Chanelle Ward's two-run double and Werth scoring on a wild pitch. Maldonado added the seventh run of the game with a RBI double. Ward went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs, Moody went 2-for-4 with one run and Werth had one RBI.

Fairfield sent Falkenger (1-6) to the circle to start the second game as well, but this time around she went five innings and allowed two runs. The Stags didn't do much offensively until the seventh when sophomore Gianna Kinhofer had a one out single and later score on freshman Angelina McGuire's double.

Up next for Niagara is a doubleheader against the Iona Gaels on Sunday, March 29 with the first pitch is scheduled for Noon.

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