Live Stats

The Purple Eagles softball team is heating up entering the final two weeks of the regular season, with an 8-4 record in its last 12 games. The team is back at Niagara Softball Field this week for a six-game home stand, starting Wednesday afternoon with a non-conference doubleheader against the Akron Zips. Opening pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
 
Last Time Out

• Niagara outscored the Rider Broncs 16-0 in a doubleheader on Sunday, April 23, taking a 10-0 win in five innings to start the day before capping the twinbill with a 6-0 victory.
• Sierra Bertrand and Emily Johnston combined to throw a two-hit shutout in the first game of the afternoon as Niagara scored five runs in both the first and second innings to pull away for the win.
• Jennifer Szilagyi tossed a complete-game shutout in game two, allowing six hits to the Broncs but keeping them off the board for her second win of the weekend after helping Niagara to a 6-3 win at Monmouth on April 22.
• Bridget Hogan led Niagara at the plate going 4-for-7 at Rider with three doubles, one RBI, and two runs scored. Chanelle Ward was also 4-for-7 in addition to three RBI.
• Kendall Watkins, who was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Tuesday, went 3-for-6 at the plate with a double and a home run.
• The win moved Niagara to 6-2 in MAAC play after an 0-4 start. Niagara (15-19, 6-6 MAAC) is now tied for the sixth and final playoff spot with Fairfield (18-24, 7-7 MAAC) and Marist (26-17, 6-6 MAAC) as all three teams are .500 in conference games.

 
On the Field: Niagara Purple Eagles (15-19, 6-6 MAAC)

• Niagara started the season 7-4 before losing 11 straight games. Now, the Purple Eagles boast an 8-4 record in their last 12 games, including a 6-2 record in conference play in that run.
• Bridget Hogan (45-for-114) is the second-leading hitter in the MAAC with a batting average of .395. In addition to that career-high average, she is also setting her best marks as a Purple Eagle in on-base percentage (.435) and slugging percentage (.535).
• Hogan leads Niagara with 15 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles and one triple.
• Freshman infielder Kendall Watkins leads Niagara with five home runs, 18 RBI, and 21 runs scored. She had three home runs last week, including a two-run shot at Syracuse on April 18 that helped Niagara to its first win over the Orange in 16 matchups.
• Sarah Trifoso is second only to Hogan on Niagara with a career-high .329 batting average, and Chanelle Ward (.317) and Jerri Ann Orfano (.315) also are batting over .300.
• Jennifer Szilagyi leads Niagara with an ERA of 3.19. She is 5-9 this season in 23 appearances (15 starts) and she has pitched three complete games and two shutouts.
• Sierra Bertrand leads the Purple Eagles with a 9-6 record in the circle in 17 appearances (16 starts) and a team-best 96 strikeouts and a .237 opposing batting average to go with a 3.38 ERA.

 
On the Field: Akron Zips (21-25, 9-9 MAC)

• Akron starts a season-ending eight-game road trip at Niagara on Wednesday.
• Last season, Niagara traveled to Akron for a doubleheader and was defeated in both games by scores of 2-0 and 8-0.
• Junior Ashley Sims is Akron's leading batter with a .386 average to go with 31 runs, 54 hits, and 37 stolen bases.
• Akron senior Savannah Fruin has a batting average of .323 to go with 20 extra-base hits (nine doubles, one triple, 10 home runs) along with 39 RBI.
• Freshman pitcher Lexie Handley leads the MAC with 188.2 innings in the circle for the Zips. Her record is 17-14 with an ERA of 2.30 to go with 161 strikeouts. Junior pitcher Kooper Vertz is 3-4 with a 3.82 ERA and 22 strikeouts.

 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for softball updates, follow Niagara Softball on Twitter and Instagram. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.