HAMDEN, CT. – With just two more games to play in the regular season, the Purple Eagles softball team entered Sunday with a chance to move back into the sixth and final spot for the MAAC Softball Championship. Niagara was defeated in both of their games against Quinnipiac, ending the Purple Eagles' season with losses of 5-0 and 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Quinnipiac Softball Field.
 
Quinnipiac 5, Niagara 0
 
To start the afternoon, the Bobcats held Niagara to just three hits, scoring five times in the first four innings to secure the 5-0 victory. Bridget Hogan started in the circle, giving up four runs on five hits through three innings of work. Sydney Smyers pitched the final three innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits against.
 
Quinnipiac held Niagara without a hit through the first three innings of the game, while scoring once in each the first and second innings before a two-run effort in the bottom of the third put the Bobcats up 4-0. Trailing 5-0 in the top of the seventh, Niagara got consecutive singles from Hogan and Jerri Ann Orfano with two outs on the board. The Bobcats were able to get the final out of the game on the next at-bat, however, giving Quinnipiac the shutout win.
 
Quinnipiac 3, Niagara 0
 
In the second and final game of the day, Niagara was again shut out by Quinnipiac, leaving five runners on base in a 3-0 loss. Jennifer Szilagyi struck out two batters in five innings in the circle, but allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits against. Smyers pitched the final inning for Niagara, giving up two hits while striking out one.
 
Niagara opened up the game with two runners on base in the first inning, as Chanelle Ward picked up a single before Quinnipiac walked Bridget Hogan. The Purple Eagles could not advance either runner, however, as Quinnipiac escaped the inning. The Bobcats scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead, adding a third run in the bottom of the third for the 3-0 lead.
 
The Purple Eagles had a chance to get on the board in the top of the sixth, as Sarah March reached second on a Quinnipiac fielding error before Ward walked to put two runners on base. The Bobcats retired the next three batters in the Niagara lineup, holding Niagara without a hit in the top of the seventh to end the game.
 
Niagara finishes the 2016 season with an overall record of 10-38, a six-game improvement from the team's finish in 2015. The Purple Eagles also made a four-game improvement in conference play, concluding this season in eighth place at 8-12 in the MAAC.

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