After accumulating a 3-3 record in six conference home games last week, the Niagara softball team concludes its regular-season home slate with a two-game set against the University at Buffalo Bulls. This is the first meeting between Buffalo and Niagara since the Purple Eagles (10-32, 8-8 MAAC) split a doubleheader with a 9-8 win and 6-3 loss at Buffalo on April 9, 2014.
 
Last Time Out

• Over the weekend, Niagara split doubleheaders against the Rider Broncs and Monmouth Hawks to move to 8-8 in MAAC play this season.
• Niagara opened Senior Day on Saturday, April 30 with a 10-2 win over Rider.
• Bridget Hogan led the way offensively with a 2-for-3 effort, hitting a three-run home run in the first inning and a two-run shot in the third inning for a total of five RBI's.
• Taylor Moody and Sarah Trifoso combined for three RBI's off a pair of doubles in the third inning as well.
• Sarah March finished the inning with a two-run homer deep to center field, capping a seven-run inning that gave Niagara a 10-1 lead after three innings before a 10-2 win ended after five innings of play.
• The Purple Eagles also earned a 2-1 win over Monmouth on May 1. It was the second win of the week for freshman pitcher Sierra Bertrand, who shut out Canisius in a 1-0 win on April 26.
• Bertrand threw eight strikeouts while allowing six hits to the Hawks, with a home run from Monmouth's Justene Reyes in the top of the sixth spoiling the shutout bid.
• March scored both of Niagara's runs in the bottom of the third. After Bertrand doubled and Trifoso walked to reach first, March slammed a double deep to left center field, bringing both runners home.

 
Postseason Picture

• In the MAAC, Niagara is currently holding the sixth and final postseason spot for the MAAC Championships, which will begin on May 11.
• Niagara is one of three MAAC teams with a .500 conference record, along with Siena (7-7) and Quinnipiac (6-6). The Purple Eagles' four remaining conference games are on the road against those two teams.
• Siena will host Niagara for a doubleheader on Saturday, May 7 at 12 p.m. The Saints also have conference doubleheaders remaining against Iona (May 3) and Marist (May 8, 12 p.m.).
• Niagara and Quinnipiac conclude the regular season against each other Sunday, May 8 at 12 p.m. The Bobcats also have conference doubleheaders against Manhattan (May 2, 3 p.m.), Canisius (May 6, 1 p.m.), and Rider (May 7, 12 p.m.).

  
Niagara Notes

• After hitting .172 and .177 in her first two years at Niagara, Sarah March has had a breakout season for the Purple Eagles, leading the team with a .367 batting average, .415 on-base percentage, and .558 slugging percentage in 40 games played this season.
• March also leads Niagara with five home runs and eight doubles, and is tied for the team lead with 15 runs batted in and 16 runs scored.
• Chanelle Ward, who has the second-best batting average on Niagara at .352 (37-for-105), has also improved significantly in her junior season (.250 in 2014, .248 in 2015).
• In seven appearances (four starts) over the past two weeks, Sydney Smyers is 3-1 with a 3.30 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 29.2 innings of work.
• Sierra Bertrand finished last week with a 2-1 record, giving up just six total runs (four earned) in 21 innings while recording 22 strikeouts.
• Bertrand is third in the MAAC with 6.6 strikeouts per seven innings and fifth in the conference with 6.38 hits against per seven innings.

 
Scouting the Bulls (15-34, 9-11 MAC)

• The UB softball team comes to Niagara with a 3-7 record in its last 10 games.
• Last week, the Bulls fell to the Binghamton Bearcats by scores of 12-4 and 11-8 on April 27 before heading to Ohio for a three-game series with the Bobcats. Buffalo won the first game at Ohio 5-3 in 10 innings before falling 3-2 and 2-1.
• Buffalo is led offensively by Savanna Norcio, who is batting .371 (53-for-143) this season.
• Freshman Katie Weimer is second on the Bulls with a .329 batting average, and she leads the team with 11 home runs, four triples and 48 RBI's.
• Charlotte Miller (7-9, 3.37 ERA) leads Buffalo in the circle, followed by Lace Smith (5-7, 4.33) and Brieanna Baker (3-7, 5.01).

 
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