Live Stats

The Purple Eagles softball team continues its road stretch with the beginning of MAAC competition on Saturday, April 2. Niagara is set to take on the Marist Red Foxes, with the doubleheader starting off at 12 p.m.
 
Niagara's doubleheader with Quinnipiac, originally scheduled for Sunday, April 3 at 12 p.m., has been postponed and rescheduled to Sunday, May 8 at the same start time.
 
Last Time Out

• Niagara dropped two games at Binghamton in a doubleheader on March 31, falling by scores of 13-0 and 15-1.
• Sarah March and Chanelle Ward led the Purple Eagles hitting with 2-for-4 efforts on the day, while Ward picked up the team's lone RBI.
• Niagara was held without a hit in the first game, getting two runners on base, before registering seven hits in game two.
• Sarah Trifoso scored for the Purple Eagles in the top of the third inning as Ward sent an RBI single to center field.
• Niagara had bases-loaded chances in the first and third innings, but the Bearcats were able to turn double plays in each instance to escape the inning.

 
Niagara Notes

• Niagara began the week ranked seventh in four major categories among MAAC teams: batting average (.240), doubles per game (1.0), home runs per game (0.5), and slugging percentage (.337).
• Freshman pitcher Sierra Bertrand leads the MAAC with 7.9 strikeouts per inning, ranking 47th in the nation in that category. The Stirling, Ont. native also leads Niagara with a 2-2 record and an ERA of 3.10.
• Sarah March has been Niagara's best hitter as of late. In the last six games, March has hit a team-best 6-for-17 (.353) with three runs scored, two runs batted in, and one home run.
• After hitting .172 and .177 in her first two seasons as a Purple Eagle, March has taken great strides as a junior and leads the team with a .352 hitting percentage through 18 games.
• March also leads the team with 19 total hits, three home runs, a .574 slugging percentage, and she also has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage (14 put outs, three assists).

 
Scouting the Red Foxes (19-7, 0-0 MAAC)

• The Red Foxes ride a six-game winning streak into Saturday's matchup with the Purple Eagles, outscoring opponents 33-12 over that stretch.
• Marist ranks third in the NCAA with 3.0 stolen bases per game and is 13^th in the nation with an average of 1.73 doubles per game.
• Maureen Duddy leads the team with a .379 batting average and also has a team-best 22 stolen bases and 21 runs scored.
• On the mound, the Red Foxes are led by Megan Beiermeister's team-low 2.20 ERA and Jayne Oberdorf's team-high 40 strikeouts.
• As a team, Marist has a .306 batting percentage, .450 slugging percentage and .963 fielding percentage.

 
Next Appearance

• With Sunday's doubleheader against Quinnipiac postponed until May, the Purple Eagles return to action next week as they travel to Youngstown State for a 3 p.m. doubleheader with the Penguins. From there, Niagara heads west as the Purple Eagles prepare for their first-ever meeting with Nevada.

 
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.