NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara softball team earned its first shutout of the season against Western New York rival Canisius during the annual Battle of the Bridge doubleheader. After a 7-1 loss to open the day, Sierra Bertrand tossed eight strikeouts in the circle and Victoria Bretz drove in the lone run of a 1-0 Niagara victory Tuesday afternoon at Niagara Softball Field.
 
Chanelle Ward led all Niagara hitters with a 3-for-7 effort (.429 average) on the day. Jennifer Szilagyi was 2-for-7 with one run scored, while Bridget Hogan and Maria Gabriele also picked up two hits on the day for the Purple Eagles (8-30, 6-6 MAAC).
 
Canisius 7, Niagara 1
 
The Golden Griffins (16-28, 7-5 MAAC) remained one game ahead of the Purple Eagles in the MAAC standings by earning a split in the doubleheader. Hogan started in the circle for Niagara, picking up three strikeouts while allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. Sydney Smyers allowed two runs on two hits in the final two innings of the game.
 
Canisius picked up a 3-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single from Meghan Cuda and a two-run triple to left field by Jessica Berzins. The Griffs made the lead 4-0 before Niagara got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. With Sarah March on third and Ward on first, Bridget Hogan shot a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring March to make it 4-1.
 
The Purple Eagles, who left a total of nine runners on base in the game, had a chance to narrow a 5-1 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning. Gabriele and Szilagyi led off the inning with a pair of singles before Canisius picked up two straight strikeouts. Jennifer Timm pinch hit and picked up a walk to load the bases for Sarah March. The junior sent a shot to center field, but Canisius made the catch to end the inning and strand three runners. The Golden Griffins tallied two more runs in the top of the seventh for a 7-1 victory.
 
Niagara 1, Canisius 0
 
In the second game of the Tuesday twinbill, Niagara picked up just one run, but it was enough to pick up a split in the Battle of the Bridge. Bertrand picked up at least one strikeout in each inning, allowing just seven runners to reach base (four hits against, three walks) as Niagara blanked Canisius 1-0 to close the day.
 
Canisius picked up three hits in the first two innings, but could not score a run to take advantage. In the bottom of the second, with Timm on first and Szilagyi on second, Bretz hit a ball to second base that was misfielded and rolled past the Canisius defender. The error allowed Szilagyi to score from second, as Timm made it to third and Bretz made it to second on the throw. With runners on second and third, however, Canisius forced two groundouts to end the inning, keeping Niagara to the one run.
 
From the third through fifth innings, Niagara did not give up a single hit to Canisius, as two walks from Bertrand accounted for the only Griffs on base in that time. The Griffs moved runners to first and second with two outs in the top of the sixth, but Canisius' Moriah Harris struck out swinging against Bertrand to close the inning.
 
With the chance to clinch the win in the top of the seventh, Niagara forced a pop up to Timm at second for the first out. From there, Bertrand fanned the Griffs' Destiny Holani before catching the final pop out herself, ending the game in a 1-0 victory for the Purple Eagles.
 
Niagara has eight more games in MAAC play to improve upon their 6-6 record this season. Six of those contests are at home, starting with doubleheaders against Rider and Monmouth this weekend. Niagara will honor its three graduating players for Senior Day on Saturday, April 30 prior to a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the Broncs, before wrapping up the weekend with an 11 a.m. doubleheader against Monmouth on Sunday, May 1.
 
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