Softball 4/2/2019 12:45:00 PM

Softball Welcomes Penguins For Home Opener

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL
Youngstown State Penguins (13-17, 4-0 Horizon) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (2-17, 1-3 MAAC)
DATE \| TIME	Wednesday, April 3 \| 3 PM (DH)
LOCATION	Niagara Softball Field – Niagara Univ., NY
LIVE STATS	Sidearm Stats

The Niagara University softball team takes to its home field for the first time on Wednesday when Youngstown State visits Niagara University for an afternoon doubleheader.

Matchup Preview

This is the fourth consecutive season in which the Purple Eagles and Penguins will meet on the diamond. Last season saw the two clubs split a doubleheader in Youngstown, with Niagara taking game one, 9-4, before Youngstown State took the second game, 3-2.
The Penguins last visited Monteagle Ridge in 2017, leaving with a two-game sweep on April 5.
Since first meeting in 1991, in 38 all-time matchups, Youngstown State has gotten the better of Niagara, winning 30 times and losing eight.

Niagara Notes

Niagara went 1-3 in its first MAAC weekend on March 29-30. Monmouth swept the Purple Eagles, but two Kendall Watkins home runs highlighted a day two split with Rider.
Maggie Vesneske has hit .279 in the team's first 19 games, the highest mark on the Niagara roster.
In just five plate appearances, Jenna Patterson has accumulated an on-base percentage of .800. She has gone 1-for-2 batting and has drawn three walks.
Sierra Bertrand's 5.91 ERA is the pitching staff's best qualifying rate. With seven starts, 10 appearances, and three complete games, opposing hitters have combined for a .292 against Bertrand.
Reliever Emily Johnston has thrown 18.0 innings, earning one save and allowing just six earned runs in none appearances.

Scouting The Penguins

Youngstown State comes into the matchup riding an eight-game winning streak. Since March 20, the Penguins have taken down Kent State, Oakland (three times), Akron (twice), Saint Bonaventure (twice), and IUPUI.
On the year, the team is 1-2 against MAAC squads. Marist defeated the Penguins, 2-0, on March 10 in South Carolina. At the UNC Wilmington Tournament the following weekend, they split with Canisius in two games.
Lexi Zappitelli's .313 batting average leads all batters on the Youngstown State roster. Yazmine Romero also has a plus-.300 batting average, having gone 30-99 (.303) over the team's first 30 games.
Grace Cea (18), Elizabeth Birkbeck (15), Nikki Saibene (15), and Maddi Lusk (11) are the four batters with double-digit RBI.
Addy Jarvis is the leading pitcher for Youngstown State, holding a 2.60 ERA after 94.1 innings in the circle.

Stay connected with Niagara Softball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and purpleeagles.com.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Sierra Bertrand: P; 5' 11"; Senior

#22 Emily Johnston: P; 5' 5"; Junior

#5 Maggie Vesneske: SS/2B; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#12 Kendall Watkins: IF; 5' 8"; Junior

#4 Jenna Patterson: P/1B; 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Sierra Bertrand
: 5' 11"; Senior
: P

#22 Emily Johnston
: 5' 5"; Junior
: P

#5 Maggie Vesneske
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: SS/2B

#12 Kendall Watkins
: 5' 8"; Junior
: IF

#4 Jenna Patterson
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: P/1B