SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In its first of two doubleheaders this week, the Purple Eagles softball team traveled east to take on the Syracuse Orange. Niagara was swept in both games, falling by scores of 7-1 and 5-0 Wednesday afternoon at the Skytop Stadium.
 
Syracuse 7, Niagara 1
 
The Purple Eagles picked up one run on six hits in the opening game of the afternoon series with Syracuse. Sarah Trifoso led the Purple Eagles with a 2-for-4 effort, while Victoria Bretz, Bridget Hogan, Sarah March, and Jennifer Szilagyi each picked up one hit in the loss.
 
Sierra Bertrand started game one, giving up four runs on six hits in four innings of action while striking out four. Sydney Smyers pitched two innings in relief, giving up three hits and three runs (zero earned).
 
Niagara and Syracuse went scoreless through the first two innings, but Syracuse took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Andrea Bombace hit a grand slam to center field off Bertrand. With Bretz on second base and Taylor Moody on first in the top of the fourth inning, Trifoso got Niagara on the board with an RBI single to center field as Bretz scored. Syracuse would tack on three runs in the bottom of the fifth that would go unanswered from Niagara, giving the Orange the 7-1 win.
 
Syracuse 5, Niagara 0
 
Niagara was held off the scoreboard in the second game at Syracuse, as the Orange took a 5-0 victory. Szilagyi started the game in the circle, giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks in 3.1 innings. Bridget Hogan finished the game, striking out one and giving up two hits and one run (zero earned).
 
The Orange tallied one run in the bottom of the first inning before a four-run fourth inning put Syracuse ahead 5-0. Niagara had an opportunity in the top of the sixth to get on the board, as Erin Bohan singled to right field and Moody was hit by a pitch. With two runners on base, Trifoso and Hogan grounded out as Syracuse escaped the inning without giving up a score.
 
Niagara now sits at 2-12 heading into Friday's doubleheader with the Cleveland State Vikings. The Purple Eagles fell 6-4 to the Vikings in the team's first game of the season back on Feb. 12. The doubleheader starts March 25 at 1 p.m.
 
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