Game 1:
Live Stats
Game 2:
Live Stats
Game 3: Live Stats
Game 4:
Live Stats
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara softball team kicks off its season this weekend at the Cleveland State Dome Invitational. The Purple Eagles will play Cleveland State (2:00 p.m.) and Bowling Green (4:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 9 and Robert Morris (10:00 a.m.) and Bowling Green (3:00 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 10.
2017 in Review
- The Purple Eagles went 19-26 overall and 10-10 in MAAC play in 2017.
- Key returners for Niagara include Jerri Ann Orfano, who had the second-best batting average (.323) on the team in 2017. She added 41 hits, 14 runs and was tied for a team-high in RBIs with 25. Kendall Watkins, who was named to the 2017 MAAC All-Rookie Team, also returns. In 2017 she batted .320 and had 39 hits, 25 runs and 25 RBIs. She also led the Purple Eagles with seven stolen bases.
- In the circle, Jennifer Szilagyi, who had a team-best 2.95 ERA in 2017, returns. She went 7-11 in 2017, with 21 games started, 29 total appearances and five complete games. She threw 130.1 innings and fanned 41 batters. Also returning to the circle is Sierra Bertrand, who went 11-10 in 2017 and pitched 10 complete games. She struck out 126 batters in 125.0 innings pitched.
- The Purple Eagles welcomed six newcomers; Karsen Cotton, Bella Garone, Heather Haberman, Kelsey Harrigan, Margaret Vesneske and junior Morgan Genovese, who played on the Niagara women's soccer team from 2015-2017.
Last Time at the Cleveland State Dome Invitational
- This is the fourth straight season that the Purple Eagles will participate in the Cleveland State Dome Invitational.
- In 2017, Niagara fell to Bowling Green, 8-1, in its opening game of the tournament and picked up two wins over Robert Morris (9-0, 7-5) and a 9-4 victory over Cleveland State. Â
Up Next
- Niagara competes next Feb. 23-25 at the Grand Canyon University Purple Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. The Purple Eagles face Houston Baptist University (4:30 p.m.) and Grand Canyon University (7:00 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 23, 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.
