Siena (Game One): Live Stats | (Game Two): Live Stats
Quinnipiac (Game One): Live Video | Live Stats (Game Two): Live Video | Live Stats

Entering the final weekend of the regular season, the Purple Eagles softball team is currently holding the sixth and final spot for qualification in the MAAC Softball Championship. Niagara (10-34, 8-8 MAAC) looks to hold on to a playoff spot with four games to play against conference opponents, opening the weekend against seventh place Siena before concluding the regular season at eighth place Quinnipiac.

Niagara and Siena are slated for a 12 p.m. opening pitch on Saturday, May 7 before concluding the regular season with a 12 p.m. doubleheader against the Bobcats on Sunday, May 8.
 
Last Time Out

• The Purple Eagles concluded their non-conference schedule for the 2016 season at home against the University at Buffalo Bulls on Tuesday, May 3.
• Niagara dropped the opening game by a 6-2 score, and a late rally in game two fell short as the Bulls pulled away in the seventh inning for a 5-3 win.
• Maria Gabriele led the Purple Eagles at the plate with a 5-for-6 effort and batted in two runs. Gabriele was a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game of the doubleheader.
• Jerri Ann Orfano hit her fourth home run of the season and added an RBI double on Tuesday.
• Bridget Hogan and Sydney Smyers split time in the circle in the first game of the day, registering four strikeouts each.
• In game two, Jennifer Szilagyi started in the circle for the first time since April 19, giving up two runs (none earned) on two hits in four innings. Sierra Bertrand finished the game, and she struck out five batters while allowing three runs on four hits.

 
Bertrand Named MAAC Rookie of the Week

• Prior to the start of Tuesday's games, Bertrand was named the MAAC Softball Rookie of the Week.
• It was the second weekly award of the season for Bertrand, who was named Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 16.
• In three complete games last week, Bertrand went 2-1 while giving up just six total runs (four earned) in 21 innings, racking up 22 strikeouts in the process.
• Bertrand led the Purple Eagles to their first shutout of the season, allowing four hits to rival Canisius while striking out eight in a 1-0 victory on April 26.
• After picking up six strikeouts in a 5-4 loss to Rider, Bertrand earned another eight in a 2-1 win over Monmouth, giving up just six hits and taking another shutout bid into the sixth inning.
• Bertrand currently ranks second among all MAAC pitchers with 6.8 strikeouts per seven innings, while giving up 6.48 hits per seven innings.
• The freshman from Stirling, Ontario leads Niagara pitchers in ERA (2.69), wins (six), complete games (seven), opposing batting average (.235), and total strikeouts (91).

 
Postseason Picture

• This weekend, the Purple Eagles are looking to secure their first MAAC Championship berth since 2013.
• The four-team championship tournament will take place from May 11-15 at the home field of the top-seeded team. Marist currently leads the MAAC with a 14-2 conference record (40-9 overall).
• At 11-5 in the MAAC, Canisius holds the second seed with doubleheaders at Quinnipiac and Marist remaining.
• The Manhattan Jaspers and Monmouth Hawks are tied for third with 12-6 conference records, with Manhattan holding the tiebreaker, while Fairfield is fifth at 10-8. All three teams have two games to play this weekend; Manhattan and Monmouth play Saint Peter's, while Fairfield hosts Iona.

 
Scouting the Saints (22-21, 7-9 MAAC)

• Siena trails Niagara by just one game in the standings, and concludes the regular season against Marist on Sunday after hosting the Purple Eagles Saturday.
• The Saints have just one win in their last eight games after rattling off a six-game win streak in doubleheaders against Saint Peter's, Hartford, and Rider.
• Iona defeated Siena 8-3 and 5-3 in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
• Siena has five players batting over .300, led by Loryn DeFalco at .364, Brooke Taylor at .353, and Sammy Smaldone at .345.
• The Saints have combined for 24 home runs this season, led by Smaldone with six and Paige Hess with five
• Lauren Butts (9-10, 3.84 ERA) leads Siena in the circle along with Danielle Cacciola (6-7, 4.63) and Antonia Edwards (6-4, 5.54).

  
Scouting the Bobcats (21-26, 6-8 MAAC)

• Eighth place Quinnipiac enters the weekend 6-8 in the MAAC with six games to play this weekend, hosting Canisius on Friday and traveling to Rider Saturday before hosting Niagara on Sunday.
• The Bobcats are 5-5 in their last 10 games prior to Friday.
• With eight games to play in the final week of the regular season, Quinnipiac opened the week with two losses to Manhattan by scores of 5-3 and 3-2.
• Miranda Magana leads Quinnipiac with a batting average of .291, and she also has a team-best seven doubles and 37 total hits.
• Casey Herzog (11-12, 3.26) and Sydney Robey (8-12, 3.69) split the majority of the time in the circle for Quinnipiac.

 
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.