Manhattan (Game One): Live Video | Live Stats
Manhattan (Game Two): Live Video | Live Stats

The Niagara softball team picked up its first two MAAC wins of the season last weekend with doubleheader splits at home against the Iona Gaels and Fairfield Stags. At 2-4 in conference play, the Purple Eagles are currently tied for seventh in the MAAC, and have a chance to improve upon that mark this weekend with four games on tap.
 
The Purple Eagles take on the Manhattan Jaspers Saturday, April 23 in a two-game set starting at 10 a.m. before concluding the weekend with a doubleheader at Saint Peter's on Sunday, April 24 starting at 12 p.m.
 
Last Time Out

• Niagara opened its 2016 home schedule with doubleheaders at Niagara Softball Field against St. Bonaventure, Iona, and Fairfield from April 14 to 17.
• Sarah March hit 6-for-9 with two doubles, two RBI's, and two runs scored in four starts.
• Jerri Ann Orfano gave Niagara a 2-1 victory over defending MAAC champion Fairfield on April 17 with a lead-off, first pitch, walk-off home run, her second solo shot of the weekend.
• Sierra Bertrand went 2-1 in four appearances with a 2.49 ERA and 15 strikeouts, giving up just eight runs (seven earned) on 16 hits in 19.2 innings in the circle.
• In her first three appearances over the weekend – five innings of shutout relief against St. Bonaventure and wins over Iona and Fairfield – Bertrand allowed just one earned run in 18.1 innings for an ERA of 0.38.
• Jennifer Timm hit a team-best .333 (4-for-12) in Niagara's six games.
• After the six-game home stand last weekend, Niagara traveled to Akron on Tuesday, falling to the Zips by scores of 2-0 and 8-0.
• Sydney Smyers pitched six innings of two-run ball in the circle in game one, giving up just five hits to Akron while striking out five batters and walking none.
• Jennifer Szilagyi hit 2-for-5 in the twinbill at Akron, while Bridget Hogan, March, Taylor Moody, and Chanelle Ward each picked up hits.

 
Niagara Notes

• Sierra Bertrand has been one of the MAAC's leaders in strikeouts per seven innings all season. She currently sits third in the conference with 6.6 per seven innings and leads Niagara with 59 total strikeouts.
• Bertrand also leads Niagara in ERA (2.89), wins (four), opposing batting average (.243), runs against (30), and hits allowed per seven innings (6.67).
• After hitting .172 and .177 in her first two seasons on Monteagle Ridge, Sarah March has had a breakout season at the plate, leading the Purple Eagles with a .368 hitting percentage (32-for-87).
• That hitting percentage puts March in a tie for the eighth-best mark in the MAAC.
• March also leads the Purple Eagles with three home runs and nine runs scored, while ranking second on the team with eight RBI's.
• March (28 put outs, three assists) and Jennifer Szilagyi (30 put outs, eight assists) each have a perfect fielding percentage this season.

 
Scouting the Jaspers (19-15, 4-4 MAAC)

• After compiling a 3-5 record in its recent eight-game road trip, Manhattan kicks off an eight-game home stand when Niagara visits on Saturday.
• In a doubleheader at Niagara Softball Field last season, the Jaspers swept the Purple Eagles with wins of 12-0 and 11-3 on April 25, 2015.
• Manhattan senior Elena Bowman, the 2015 MAAC Player of the Year, leads the Jaspers in hitting percentage (.379), on-base percentage (.563), slugging percentage (.724), RBI's (24), runs scored (23), and home runs (nine).
• In the circle, the Jaspers are led by sophomore Briana Matazinsky (6-5, 3.24 ERA) and freshman Stephanie Kristo (5-5, 3.96 ERA).

 
Scouting the Peacocks (0-29, 0-6 MAAC)

• Saint Peter's hosts Niagara for the final two games of a six-game home stand Sunday. The Peacocks fell to Fairfield by scores of 12-1 and 8-0 on April 21 and host Canisius for a doubleheader on April 23.
• Niagara swept the Peacocks in a doubleheader for last season's Senior Day on April 26, 2015. The Purple Eagles earned a 4-3 win in eight innings as well as a 7-6 victory.
• Freshman Jackie Riley leads Saint Peter's in batting average (.262), on-base percentage (.351), and slugging percentage (.338).
• Lee Harrison, Samantha Storms, and Harley Connors are tied for the Saint Peter's team lead with two home runs each.

 
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.