NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – In their final two home games of the 2016 regular season, the Purple Eagles softball team dropped two close losses to the University at Buffalo Bulls. Niagara was defeated 6-2 in the first game, and a late comeback attempt in the second and final game was spoiled in the top of the seventh inning by Buffalo, ending with a 5-3 loss Tuesday afternoon at Niagara Softball Field.
 
Maria Gabriele batted .833 (5-for-6) against the Bulls, adding two RBI's as well. Jerri Ann Orfano also finished with two RBI's, batting 2-for-6 with a solo home run and a double. In addition to Orfano, Erika Siegel also scored two runs for the Purple Eagles (10-34, 8-8 MAAC).
 
Buffalo 6, Niagara 2
 
The Bulls opened a 4-0 run in the first three innings before trading runs with the Purple Eagles on the way to a 6-2 Buffalo win. Bridget Hogan started in the circle for Niagara, giving up four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Sydney Smyers pitched three innings in relief of Hogan, registering another four strikeouts but allowing two runs on four hits.
 
Buffalo got only two hits against Hogan in the first two innings, but both were home runs that helped the Bulls take a 3-0 lead. After an RBI single made it 4-0 Buffalo in the top of the third, Niagara got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Orfano sent a double deep to right center field, Gabriele powered a single up the middle of the Buffalo defense to bring Orfano home.
 
The Bulls (17-34, 9-11 MAC) made it 6-1 with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but Niagara curbed the deficit to four in the bottom of the seventh as Orfano cranked her fourth home run of the season over the wall to lead off the inning. After that, however, Buffalo recorded outs on three straight batters to secure the win.
 
Buffalo 5, Niagara 3
 
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Niagara was able to tie the game, but Buffalo got a two-run single in the top of the seventh for the 5-3 win. Jennifer Szilagyi started the game with two runs against (zero earned) through four innings. Sierra Bertrand completed the final three innings, striking out five batters but giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits.
 
After a scoreless first inning to start the game, Buffalo scored a pair of runs off of Niagara errors in the top of the second. Niagara would get one run back in the fourth inning. After Hogan singled to get on base, Siegel pinch ran and scored her first run of the day, advancing to second on a single by Gabriele and coming home on a double into left field from Szilagyi.
 
The Purple Eagles converted on their chance to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, starting with Chanelle Ward on third and Siegel on second. Ward scored on a fielder's choice as Orfano grounded out to second base. It was Gabriele who came up with the tying run, as her single deep down the right field line brought Siegel home to knot the game at three.
 
Buffalo loaded the bases with just one out in the top of the seventh, putting the pressure on Bertrand and the Niagara defense. Bertrand struck out one batter to get the second out, but the Bulls' Catrell Robertson found a two-run single to return the lead to Buffalo. Brianna Clark doubled to get a runner in scoring position for Niagara, but that was the only hit the Purple Eagles could find in the bottom of the seventh, falling 5-3.
 
The Purple Eagles have four games remaining in regular-season play, and they come against two opponents fighting with Niagara for berths in the MAAC Softball Championship. Niagara travels to Siena for a two-game set with the Saints on Saturday, May 7 starting at 12 p.m. From there, the Purple Eagles conclude the regular season with a doubleheader at Quinnipiac on Sunday, May 8 at 12 p.m.
 
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