NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles softball team made a late rally in their home opening game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, tying the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. The Bonnies came out on top with a 5-2 win in eight innings, and Niagara fell 10-3 in the second game of Thursday afternoon's doubleheader at Niagara Softball Field.
 
Sarah Trifoso led the team in hitting with a 3-for-7 performance on the day for Niagara (2-24, 0-2 MAAC). Jennifer Timm and Bridget Hogan each hit 2-for-6, while Chanelle Ward, Jennifer Szilagyi, and Taylor Moody picked up two hits apiece on the day.
 
St. Bonaventure 5, Niagara 2
 
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Niagara scored two runs to tie the game and had a chance to win with the bases loaded. However, the Bonnies would escape the inning and score three times in the top of the eighth to win the first game of the afternoon. Hogan pitched the complete game in the opener, surrendering five runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out four.
 
Niagara had a chance to score in the bottom of the first inning with runners on second and third and one out on the board, but Szilagyi struck out and Hogan popped out to first base before St. Bonaventure tallied two runs on three hits in the top of the second inning for the 2-0 lead. The Purple Eagles had multiple chances to narrow the deficit, but left a grand total of nine runners on base through six innings of play.
 
After holding St. Bonaventure off the board in the top of the seventh inning, Niagara came up to bat for its last chance of the game. The Purple Eagles got RBI singles from Szilagyi and Hogan, both hit squarely through the middle of the infield, to tie the game at two. Hogan and pinch runner Alexandra Moore advanced to second and third, respectively, before the Bonnies opted to intentionally walk Brianna Clark to load the bases with one out. From there, however, Moore was thrown out at home as Jennifer Timm hit to the shortstop, and Maria Gabriele grounded out to second base as the Bonnies avoided the late loss.
 
St. Bonaventure capitalized on the chance to regain the lead in extra innings, scoring three runs on two hits, one walk, and two Niagara errors in the top of the eighth before giving up just one hit on four batters to Niagara in the bottom of the final inning.
 
St. Bonaventure 10, Niagara 3
 
The Bonnies, after securing the extra-innings victory in game one, came out swinging to start game two and wasted little time amassing an 8-0 lead through two innings, allowing no hits to Niagara in that time. Niagara starting pitcher Sydney Smyers surrendered two more runs in the top of the third, she was relieved by Sierra Bertrand.
 
Niagara got on the board in the bottom of the third, as Jerri Ann Orfano doubled to right field before a pop fly from by Taylor Moody was mishandled by the Bonnies' defense, allowing Orfano to score to make it a 10-1 game. The Purple Eagles knocked in two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Szilagyi and Hogan led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Szilagyi scored on a fielder's choice as Clark grounded out to third base, and Hogan was brought home on an RBI single from Timm.
 
Neither team was able to score in the final three innings of play, as the Bonnies left six runners on base while the Purple Eagles stranded three. Bertrand finished the relief appearance with five innings of no-run ball, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out five batters.
 
The weekend home stand continues Saturday and Sunday for the Purple Eagles. Niagara returns to MAAC play with doubleheaders against the Iona Gaels at 1 p.m. on April 16 followed by a 12 p.m. doubleheader against Fairfield on April 17.
 
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.