ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The Niagara softball team was swept in its doubleheader at Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure, 9-1 and 5-3, on Tuesday. Senior Desarae Maldonado went 4-for-7 with two RBIs in the doubleheader.

Niagara 1, St. Bonaventure 9

A four-run fourth inning held St. Bonaventure pull away for a 9-1 win in game one of the doubleheader. The Bonnies were led offensively by Grace Rooney, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs, and Emily McDonough, who went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs. The Bonnies led 2-0 after one inning before a four-run, five-hit fourth inning gave the host a 6-0 lead.

Maldonado drove home her first run of the day with a single to centerfield, scoring Rebecca Saggiomo form third base, in the fifth inning for Niagara's lone run. A three-run fifth inning by the Bonnies ended the contest.

Niagara 3, St. Bonaventure 5

The Purple Eagles' rally fell short in game two. The Bonnies (11-19) got off to another fast start scoring four runs in the first inning.

Niagara (2-30) got on the board in the third inning. The bases were loaded with one out when Chanelle Ward's sacrifice fly scored Katelyn Gruarin for their first run. Though, NU would leave two runners on bases. The Bonnies increased their lead to 5-1 in their half of the inning.

After leaving two runners on base in the fourth, NU once again loaded the bases in the fifth inning which led to one run when Brianna Clark scored on a passed ball. Niagara scored its third run in the game in the sixth inning. With Gruarin on second base, Maldonado singled to centerfield to score her classmate to cut the score to 5-3. However, it would be Niagara's final run of the game.

Niagara continues its Little 3 rivalry week with a doubleheader at Canisius on Thursday, April 23 starting at 3 p.m.

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