Youngstown State
Game One: Video | Live Stats // Game Two: Video | Live Stats

Nevada
Game One: Gametracker // Game Two: Gametracker // Game Three: Gametracker

This week, the Purple Eagles softball team plays the final five games of a 25-game road stretch to open the 2016 season. Niagara starts the week traveling to Ohio for a doubleheader against the Youngstown State Penguins starting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. Both games in the doubleheader can be streamed on ESPN3.

From there, the team flies west for the team's first-ever matchup with the University of Nevada Wolf Pack. Niagara and Nevada will play a three-game series, beginning with a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Friday, April 8 and concluding with a third game Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m.
 
Last Time Out

• The Purple Eagles opened MAAC play on April 2 at Marist, dropping a pair of close contests to the conference-leading Red Foxes by scores of 6-3 and 1-0.
• After giving up a run to Marist in the first inning of game one, the Purple Eagles took the lead with a two-run double from Jennifer Szilagyi in the fourth before Bridget Hogan's RBI double in the fifth gave Niagara the 3-1 lead.
• Marist scored once in the bottom of fifth before a four-run effort in the sixth inning sent the Red Foxes to the 6-3 victory to start the doubleheader.
• Marist was then held to one first-inning run and three total hits in game two by Niagara freshman pitcher Sierra Bertrand. However, the Purple Eagles were also held to just three hits and could not find a tying run in a 1-0 loss.
• Hogan led the Purple Eagles' hitters in the doubleheader, finishing the day 2-for-5. Sarah March, Niagara's leading hitter on the season, hit 2-for-7 at Marist.
   

Niagara Notes

• Hogan's mark 0.30 doubles per game is tied for the third-best individual average in the MAAC.
• Bertrand ranks among the MAAC's top pitchers in two statistical categories. The freshman is second among MAAC pitchers with 6.14 hits allowed per seven innings, while ranking third with 6.9 strikeouts per seven innings
• Bertrand leads the Purple Eagles in ERA (2.77), innings pitched (35.1), wins (2), and strikeouts (35).
• Szilagyi leads Niagara with eight runs batted in this season, while March, Hogan, and Jennifer Timm are tied for second on the team with six RBI's.
• March leads the Purple Eagles with a .344 hitting percentage, 21 total hits, three home runs, and a .541 slugging percentage.

 
Scouting the Penguins (16-12, 4-1 Horizon)

• Youngstown State has won nine of its last ten games. They are coming off a 4-1 win in the second game of their doubleheader against Oakland.
• They rank second in their conference, behind UIC and Wright State who are tied for first.
• Sophomore Cali Mikovich leads the team in runs (25) and home runs (seven).
• Miranda Castiglione is tied for second in runs with 24. She also leads the team with a batting average of .459, which ranks 22nd in the NCAA.
• Pitcher Caitlyn Minney has recorded nine wins this season and has recorded a team-high of 60 strikeouts. Paige Geanangel leads the Penguins with a 4.18 ERA.

 
Scouting the Wolf Pack (25-8, 6-3 Mountain West)

• Nevada has won seven of its last ten games, coming off a loss in the final appearance of a three-game series versus New Mexico.
• Jennifer Purcell leads the team with a batting average of .413 and a slugging percentage of .804. She is second in the NCAA with doubles per game (0.48).
• On the mound, freshman Brooke Bolinger has the best marks among Nevada pitchers in ERA (1.99) and strikeouts (84). She has earned 12 wins for the team, while junior pitcher McKenna Isenberg has earned nine.
• As a team, they have produced a .310 batting average and .508 slugging percentage.

 
Next Appearance

• After the road series at Nevada, Niagara will prepare for its home opener against a local opponent, the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, on Thursday, April 14 at 3 p.m.

 
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.