CLEVELAND, OH – The Niagara softball team kicked its season off with two close-fought games at the Cleveland State Dome Tournament. The Purple Eagles were unable to find a win Saturday afternoon, however, falling 6-4 to Cleveland State before a 4-3 loss to Morehead State.
 
Cleveland State 6, Niagara 4
 
Niagara fell behind early in the game as the Vikings surged ahead to a 6-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Purple Eagles would pick up their first two runs of the year in that inning, however, beginning a four-run comeback attempt that came up just short.
 
Niagara picked up 12 hits in the game, with Bridget Hogan leading the Niagara offense going 3-for-4 with two doubles, while Taylor Moody went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Hogan also pitched the first game of the year. The redshirt sophomore gave up six earned runs in addition to picking up five strikeouts and one walk.
 
In the bottom of the fourth with two runners on base, Chanelle Ward drove in Niagara's first run of the season, hitting a single to right field as Bridget Hogan scored a run. In that same inning, freshman Maria Gabriele earned her first hit, an RBI single that brought Alexandra Moore home.
 
Sarah March narrowed the Niagara deficit to 6-3 with a home run to center field in the fifth inning, and Taylor Moody scored off of a Rebecca Saggiomo groundout in the seventh. The Purple Eagles would be unable to complete the comeback in that final inning, however, as the Vikings held on for the win.
 
Morehead State 4, Niagara 3
 
The Purple Eagles continued their strong efforts from the first game of the day into game two in a matchup with the Morehead State Eagles. Niagara used a two-run third inning to take its first lead of the season, but a two-run seventh inning from Morehead State sent Niagara to a 4-3 loss.
 
Ward led the way for Niagara in game two of the tournament, hitting 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Moody, March, Hogan, and Jennifer Szilagyi also picked up hits. Sydney Smyers started in the circle against Morehead State, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out six.
 
After surrendering a run in the top of the first inning, Ward brought Moody home with a bases-loaded single to tie the game at 1-1. Morehead State regained the lead in the second inning, but Niagara's two-run third inning gave them the first lead of the game. Ward began the inning with her second RBI of the day with a single to right center. Following that single, Brianna Clark and Erin Bohan loaded the bases before Gabriele batted Ward home to give Niagara a 3-2 lead.
 
Morehead State would score two runs in the top of the seventh inning that would go unanswered as Niagara fell to 0-2. The Eagles' Lizzy Margagliotti tied the game with an RBI single, and she would later score on a wild pitch to get the go-ahead run that sealed the win.
 
The Purple Eagles have another doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 13 to conclude the Cleveland State Dome Tournament. Niagara faces Bowling Green at 2:00 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend with Robert Morris at 4:30 p.m.
 
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