VIEW THE COMPLETE 2019 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University softball team and head coach
Larry Puzan announced the 2019 regular season schedule on Wednesday. The Purple Eagles' 47-game schedule begins on March 7 against a familiar opponent in an unfamiliar setting, as they'll square off against longtime rival Saint Bonaventure in Hawai'i to open the year.
As part of the Outrigger Resorts Hawai'i Spring Fling Tournament, the Purple Eagles will play seven games between March 7-10. On the first day of the tourney, they'll take on the Bonnies and. A rematch against Saint Bonaventure, plus two meetings apiece with Utah and host Hawai'i, round out the team's opening weekend in the Aloha State.
While the Purple Eagles and Bonnies have met several times over the years, Niagara's meetings with Cal and Utah – who have combined for seven NCAA tournament appearances in the past four seasons – will be firsts.
The only previous meeting between Niagara and Hawai'i occurred in the 1998 NCAA Regional. Following the Purple Eagles' MAAC Championship and a defeat of Robert Morris in a three-game playoff, Niagara earned its first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Purple Eagles fell to eventual runner-up Arizona before the Rainbow Wahine eliminated the team the next day.
After two days off, the Purple Eagles will get back on the field in the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic from March 13-16. Niagara will play SIUE, Alabama and Hawai'i two times each over the course of the event.
The SIUE Cougars have made it to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship in four of the past five seasons, while the Alabama Crimson Tide have qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year for the past 20 seasons. Both teams will be taking on Niagara for the first time in program history.
The Purple Eagles will return to New York to renew their rivalry with in-state foe Syracuse on March 27. MAAC play will commence the following weekend with doubleheaders at Rider (March 30) and 2018 conference champion Monmouth (March 31).
Niagara's first home game of 2019 will take place on April 3, when Youngstown State visits for a midweek doubleheader. During the offseason, the Niagara Softball Field received a facelift that included newly painted dugouts. The team will play host to Siena three days later before heading to Canisius on April 7 for the annual Battle of the Bridge.
Road contests at Robert Morris (April 9), Iona (April 13) and Fairfield (April 14) will precede a return home on April 17 when the Akron Zips come to Monteagle Ridge. Following an off weekend, the squad will make a road trip to two-time defending America East champ Albany on April 25.
The Purple Eagles will remain in Western New York for the remainder of the season, with six doubleheaders scheduled in a nine-day span. Showdowns against conference opponents Saint Peter's (April 27) and Manhattan (April 28) will take place at home before a visit to Buffalo (April 30) and another meeting with Saint Bonaventure (May 2). Niagara will close out the 2019 regular season by hosting Quinnipiac (May 4) and Marist (May 5).
The 2019 MAAC Softball Championship runs from May 8-12 and will be hosted by the school that posts the best regular-season conference record.
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