ELON, N.C. - On the second day of the Elon Softball Tournament, the Purple Eagles softball team (2-10) dropped games against Elon and Central Connecticut State. The day began with Niagara taking a 2-1 lead against the host Elon Phoenix before eventually falling 7-2. Niagara then closed the tournament with a 6-1 loss against the Blue Devils.

Elon 7, Niagara 2

After falling 8-0 to Elon on the first day of the tournament, Niagara got out to a much-improved start in the rematch against the hosting team. The Purple Eagles got two runs in the top of the second inning to take the lead, but Elon scored one run in the bottom of the inning before a six-run sixth inning gave the Phoenix a 7-2 victory over Niagara.

Sarah March led Niagara with a 2-for-3 effort while scoring the first run of the game, while Maria Gabriele and Erin Bohan also picked up hits in the loss. Sydney Smyers gave up seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, while striking out two batters. Gabriele gave up one hit to three batters faced in a sixth-inning relief appearance in the circle.

Niagara opened the scoring in the second inning following March's single to right center field. Jennifer Szilagyi reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, and a fielding error allowed March to score on the play. Szilagyi would then score as Gabriele singled to right center as well; Szilagyi reached third base on the hit and reached home after an errant throw. Elon scored one run in the bottom of the second to make it a 2-1 game in favor of Niagara.

The Purple Eagles held the lead for three more innings, but Elon pulled away in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Phoenix got seven runners on base via four hits, two fielding errors, and one walk, and six of those seven runners scored as the seventh and final inning began with Elon ahead 7-2. Niagara was held without a run in that final inning as Elon took the win.

Central Connecticut State 6, Niagara 1

In similar fashion to Saturday's opening game for Niagara, the Purple Eagles took a 1-0 lead early against Central Connecticut State, only to see a six-run fifth inning from the Blue Devils send Niagara to a 6-1 loss to close the Elon Softball Tournament.

March hit 1-for-3 against Central Connecticut State, and her hit was an RBI double that scored Taylor Moody in the top of the first inning. Sarah Trifoso went 1-for-2 in the game, and Bridget Hogan pitched the complete game, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits while striking out three.

Moody led off the game for Niagara and walked to get on base. Moody then advanced to second on a groundout from Trifoso, and after Hogan struck out, March hit a two-out double to get Niagara on the board early. However, Central Connecticut State picked up six runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth and shut out Niagara the rest of the way.

Niagara heads back home from Elon with three tournaments completed to open the season. The Purple Eagles return to game action on March 23 with a doubleheader at Syracuse starting at 3 p.m.

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