NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles split their doubleheader with the Siena Saints on Sunday from Niagara Field.

Siena 1, Niagara 2

Niagara snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Saints in game one of the doubleheader.

The Purple Eagles slipped past the Saints with timely hitting along with a strong pitching performance by Sydney Smyers who earned her first win of the season.  

NU scored the game's first run in the third inning. Victoria Bretz led off the inning with a single up the middle and later advanced to third base. With two outs, Katelyin Gruarin legged out a triple to score Bretz from third to give NU a 1-0 lead.

Siena threaten in the fifth inning before lining into a double play. However, the Saints tied the game at 1-1 in the next inning. Alyssa Lancaster singled up the middle to drive home Paige Lloyd, but the Siena left two runners on base.

In Niagara's half of the sixth, Ally Gay singled to right field to start the inning. Two batters later, Amanda Werth singled to centerfield to score Gay from second for the go-ahead run.

The Saints loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning, but Abby Carpenter lined out the right field and Paige Hess flied out to deep centerfield to end the game.

Niagara 1, Siena 4

A couple of missed opportunities along with a close call decided game two.

Siena (13-19-1, 7-5 MAAC) scored three runs in the fourth inning to break the scoreless game. The Saints benefitted from a close call at second base when Carpenter, who was on first, was ruled to be safe at second to allow Lancaster to reach on a fielder's choice. Siena's Brooke Taylor later cleared the bases with a double for a 3-0 Saints lead.

NU (2-28, 2-8 MAAC) twice failed to score with the bases loaded; the Purple Eagles loaded the bases in the third and fourth inning. Niagara entered the score column in the fifth inning when Brianna Clark singled to right center to score pitch runner Sarah Trifoso.

Siena added one run in the seventh when Carpenter doubled off the leftfield wall to score pitch runner Chelsea Stout. Niagara went down in order in its final attempt.

Niagara will face Little 3 rivals St. Bonaventure on Tuesday, April 21 at 3 p.m. and Canisius on Thursday, April 23 at 3 p.m.

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