LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – The Purple Eagles softball team began the final weekend of the regular season with a crucial road doubleheader at Siena. Despite holding leads in both games, the Saints came back twice to secure 5-3 and 9-5 wins over Niagara on Saturday afternoon at Siena Field.

Now at 8-10 in MAAC play, Niagara trails both Siena and Quinnipiac (9-9 MAAC) by one game in the race for the sixth and final spot in the MAAC Softball Championship.
 
Niagara's two leading hitters each had strong days at the plate, as Chanelle Ward batted 4-for-6 with one run scored, while Sarah March finished 3-for-7 with two runs scored and one RBI. In the second game of the day, Maria Gabriele went 3-for-4 at the plate with a game-high four RBIs for the Purple Eagles.
 
Siena 5, Niagara 3
 
In the first game of the day, the Purple Eagles were tied 2-2 through four innings before a three-run effort in the bottom of the fifth gave the Saints a lead they would not relinquish. Sydney Smyers have up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in four innings. Sierra Bertrand pitched the final two defensive innings for Niagara, giving up one hit and one walk to the Saints.
 
Niagara opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. After Victoria Bretz led off the inning with a walk, Sarah March sent a double into left field as Bretz rounded the bases for the 1-0 lead. Siena scored twice in the bottom of the third, but Niagara tied it in the top of the fourth as Bretz came up to bat with the bases loaded and her single to center field brought the tying run in from third base.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, however, the Saints scored the go-ahead run off of Smyers before adding two more with Bertrand in the circle to take a 5-2 lead. With two outs in the seventh inning, Ward singled to center field and Bridget Hogan picked up the RBI on a double to right field. Siena picked up the final out of the game on the next at-bat, ending the game at 5-3.
 
Siena 9, Niagara 5
 
The Purple Eagles scored took a 5-3 lead over Siena after four innings of play in game two. The Saints (24-21, 9-9 MAAC) would score six runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 9-5 lead, and Niagara would not narrow the deficit in the top of the seventh inning. Bertrand allowed 11 hits to the Saints, giving up nine runs (seven earned) in the loss while striking out five.
 
Gabriele, who hit 3-for-4 in the conclusion of Saturday's doubleheader, opened the scoring in the first inning. With two outs on the board and runners on second and third, Gabriele singled to third base and brought March home for the opening run. After Siena tied the game in the second inning, a three-run third put Niagara in front 4-1. With the bases loaded, it was Gabriele again who picked up two more runs with a single down the right-field line. The next batter up was Jennifer Szilagyi, who scored a third Niagara runner with a single to center field.
 
The Saints narrowed Niagara's lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the third, but it was Gabriele yet again who picked up the RBI for the Purple Eagles to make it 5-3. After Hogan reached on a fielder's choice and Jerri Ann Orfano singled to center field, Gabriele brought Hogan home on another single up the middle of the Siena defense.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, however, the Saints scored six runs on seven hits and one error against Niagara, seizing the lead for good. Bertrand gave up six runs while Niagara picked up just one out before Smyers made her second appearance of the day. The senior gave up one single to Siena before the Purple Eagles turned a double play to get out of the inning. Orfano led off the top of the seventh inning with a double, but that was the only hit Niagara would get as Siena closed out the 9-5 win.
 
The Purple Eagles conclude their regular season on Sunday, May 8 with a doubleheader at Quinnipiac starting at 12 p.m. In order to qualify for the MAAC Softball Championship, Niagara will need to win both of its games against the Bobcats and will need Siena to lose both of its games at Marist on Sunday.
 
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