Cleveland State, game one (1 p.m.) - Watch on ESPN3 | Live Stats 
Cleveland State, game two (3:30 p.m.) - Watch on ESPN3 | Live Stats

After opening the 2016 season with three weekend tournaments, the Purple Eagles softball team continues its season with a 15-game road trip against seven different opponents. Niagara begins this stretch Wednesday, March 23 with a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Syracuse against the Orange before heading to Cleveland State for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 25.
 
The mid-week trip to Syracuse marks the third consecutive season that the Purple Eagles have played the Orange, while Niagara will be facing the Cleveland State Vikings for the second time this season after taking part in their Cleveland State Dome Tournament from Feb. 12-13.
 
Last Time Out
 

• Niagara most recently completed the Elon Softball Tournament, playing four games over two days.
• Though Niagara dropped the first game of the tournament, 2-1, to Oakland on March 11, Bridget Hogan was 3-for-3 at the plate and Sierra Bertrand struck out nine batters in 6.1 innings of work.
• Sarah March led the Purple Eagles with a .400 hitting percentage in the tournament (4-10) and had the team's only RBI against Central Connecticut State on March 12.
• Maria Gabriele knocked in Niagara's only other RBI of the tournament against Elon on March 12.
• Hogan, March, Sarah Trifoso and Erin Bohan each recorded an extra-base hit in the tournament.

 
Niagara Notes (2-10, 0-0 MAAC)
 

• The Purple Eagles are sixth in the MAAC in both team batting percentage (.247) and team slugging percentage (.334).
• Bridget Hogan leads NU with a .378 hitting percentage.
• Sierra Bertrand leads Niagara with a 2.47 ERA (22.2 innings pitched), 25 strikeouts and a .222 opposing batting average.
• Bertrand ranks second among MAAC pitchers with 7.88 strikeouts per seven innings.

 
On the Field: Syracuse Orange (12-14, 1-5 ACC)
 

• Syracuse was most recently swept in a three-game weekend series at No. 10 Florida State this past weekend. The Seminoles were the fourth ranked opponent the Orange have faced so far this season.
• The game against Niagara marks the beginning of a 10-game home stand against four different teams for Syracuse.
• Alyssa Dewes leads the Orange with a .385 batting percentage and a .769 slugging percentage.
• The Orange has 20 home runs through 26 games played, led by six from Corinne Ozanne.

 
On the Field: Cleveland State Vikings (5-16, 0-0 Horizon)
 

• Friday's doubleheader marks the start of seven straight home games for the Vikings.
• Cleveland State went 1-4 in five games last week, including a split in a doubleheader at Baylor.
• Niagara played Cleveland State in its first game of the season on Feb. 12, and the Vikings came out on top with a 6-4 win.
• Cleveland State's Erica McNew ranks 30th in the NCAA with a .547 on-base percentage and 41st in the nation with a .452 batting average.

 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for softball updates, follow @NiagaraSoftball. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.