Live Stats

In the midst of an eight-game home stand, the Niagara softball team will play a pair of doubleheaders this weekend. Niagara starts the weekend with Senior Day as the team hosts the Rider Broncs for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 30. Prior to the game, the Purple Eagles will honor their three graduating players: Victoria Bretz, Kristen Prusiecki, and Sydney Smyers.
 
The Purple Eagles return to Niagara Field to take on the Monmouth Hawks in an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Sunday, May 1. Last time out Niagara (8-30, 6-6) split a doubleheader against rival Canisius.
 
Last Time Out

• Chanelle Ward led all Niagara hitters with a 3-for-7 effort (.429 average) on the day
• Sierra Bertrand tossed eight K's and pitched a complete game shutout to pick up her fifth win of the season in a 1-0 victory over Canisius.
• Victoria Bretz drove in the lone run in the Battle of the Bridge victory, when she reached on an error by the second baseman which allowed Jennifer Szilagyi to score.
• Tuesday was the first time since 2014 Niagara has split a season series against Canisius.
• The Purple Eagles have won four of their last six games, all against MAAC opponents. In addition to the Canisius win, Niagara took three of four wins in a weekend trip to Manhattan and Saint Peter's April 23 and 24.

 
Niagara Notes

• At 6-6 in conference play, the Purple Eagles are currently in a tie for the sixth and final postseason spot in the MAAC Softball Championship. They are tied with Siena, who Niagara will face in the second-last doubleheader of the regular season on May 7.
• Marist leads the MAAC with an 11-1 record, while Monmouth (11-3), Canisius (7-5), Manhattan (8-6), and Fairfield (8-6) are also ahead of Niagara in the standings with 10 games to play.
• In her last 12 games, Sarah March has hit .428 (15-for-34). On the season, she leads the team with 40 hits, four homeruns, a .551 slugging percentage, and a .417 on-base percentage for the season.
• March's .374 batting average for the season is the best average on the team and ranks her at seventh among all MAAC players.
• Sierra Bertrand is third in the MAAC with 6.5 strikeouts per seven innings pitched. She also leads the team with a 2.82 ERA, five wins, and 72 total strikeouts.
• Chanelle Ward is second on the team with a .324 batting average and leads the team with 12 RBIs.
• Bridget Hogan hit the first triple by a Niagara player this season in an 11-8 win over Saint Peter's on April 24.

 
Scouting the Broncs (6-35, 3-10 MAAC)

• Rider recently completed a seven-game home stand, going 1-6 with a 14-12 victory over Saint Peter's on April 26.
• The Broncs then fell 2-1 at Columbia on April 27 and now head to Western New York. After facing Niagara on Saturday, they will play a 12 p.m. doubleheader at Canisius on May 1.
• Kim Valdes (.329) and Toni Nino (.312) lead Rider in hitting percentage, while Dana Sensi leads the team with four home runs, 12 doubles, and 22 runs batted in.
• Megan Ailand (1-15, 6.24) and Kaitlyn Kellert (3-14, 6.49) have been the two leaders in innings pitched, followed by Delany Demello (2-3, 4.40).

 
Scouting the Hawks (24-15, 11-3 MAAC)

• Monmouth currently sits second in the MAAC standings, trailing only Marist.
• The Hawks take on Canisius at 12 p.m. on April 30 before heading to Monteagle Ridge the next day.
• Monmouth went 2-2 in a four-game home stand last weekend, dropping two games to Marist before sweeping Siena by scores of 10-9 (8 innings) and 8-2.
• Amanda Riley (10-4, 2.59) and Sydney Underhill (14-11, 2.29) are two of the MAAC's leading pitchers in the circle, as Monmouth paces the conference with a team ERA of 2.42.
• Six Hawks are hitting better than .300 this season, led by Emma Hill (.363) and Justene Reyes (.349).

 
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.