PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Purple Eagles softball team split its first day at the Grand Canyon University Purple Classic on Friday, defeating Houston Baptist, 4-1, and falling to Grand Canyon, 10-2.
Game 1: Niagara 4, Houston Baptist 1
- Houston Baptist (1-4) got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
- In the bottom of the fifth, the Purple Eagles (3-3) tied things up, 1-1, after a single from Kendall Watkins scored Kelsey Harrigan. Jerri Ann Orfano then hit a three-run homer, scoring Taylor Moody and Watkins to put the Purple Eagles in the lead, 4-1.
- Niagara held the Huskies scoreless for the remainder of the game to earn the 4-1 win.
- Orfano led the Purple Eagles with two hits and three RBIs.
- Sierra Bertrand (2-0) threw a complete game in the circle. She fanned nine batters and allowed one unearned run in 7.0 innings pitched.
Game 2: Grand Canyon 10, Niagara 2
- The Antelopes (4-8) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning, and added one run in both the second and the third to take the 5-0 advantage over the Purple Eagles.
- In the top of the fourth, with Watkins and Orfano on base, Heather Haberman singled to score both runners and put NU down by only three runs, 5-2.
- Grand Canyon, however, continued to dominate on offense and defense and came away with the 10-2 victory.
- Orfano, Haberman and Jennifer Timm each had one hit and Haberman had a team-high two RBIs.
- In the circle, Jennifer Szilagyi (0-2) struck out one batter and allowed six earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched.
Up Next
- The GCU Purple Classic continues Feb. 24-25. Niagara will face Grand Canyon (2:00 p.m.) and Houston Baptist (7:00 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 24 and Grand Canyon (11:00 a.m.) on Sunday, Feb. 25.
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