NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Highlighted by a six-RBI day from Maria Gabriele, the Niagara softball team split its games against Siena on Saturday afternoon. Gabriele went 3-for-7 from the plate to ignite the Purple Eagles' offense.
 
Niagara 4, Siena 3

• After taking care of Siena quickly in the top of the first, Niagara went ahead, 1-0, in the bottom of the frame. Heather Haberman knocked a one-out double and scored from third when Jerri Ann Orfano grounded out to short.
• In the fourth, Niagara added two more by nearly getting all the way through the order. A leadoff walk by Kendall Watkins got things started before she stole second. Gabriele moved her to third with a groundout to second base, and a single into right field off the bat of Tara Driver brought her around. Driver's single got her into third base when the right fielder misplayed the ball and allowed the freshman to take two free bags. She was then brought in on a Kelsey Harrigan single into center field.
• Siena didn't go quietly, as they tied things up the very next frame. In the bottom of the fifth, however, Niagara responded with a go-ahead run when Gabriele scored Watkins from first with a double off the center field wall.
• Five Niagara batters got one hit apiece, with four players notching an RBI.
• In the circle, Sierra Bertrand got the start and nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Jennifer Szilagyi's 1.2 innings in relief saw her allow zero baserunners and collect two strikeouts of her own.

 
Siena 7, Niagara 6

• Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first, the Purple Eagles responded quickly to claim the lead. Maggie Vesneske led off with a single and eventually scored when Kendall Watkins was walked with the bases loaded. Haberman came across one batter later when Gabriele hit a sac fly into center field.
• After Siena struck twice in the top of the third to reclaim the lead, it was Gabriele again who got Watkins across the dish to tie the game at 3-3.
• Siena scored three more times between the fourth and fifth innings, but the bottom of the sixth saw the Purple Eagles fight back to tie the game yet again. Orfano singled and stepped aside for pinch runner Bella Garone. Garone was sent to third when Watkins doubled into left before Gabriele cleared the bases with a three-run blast beyond the left field wall.
• As a team, Niagara accounted for 11 hits, with Vesneske's three hits topping the team. Gabriele had five of the team's six RBI in game two, with Watkins accounting for the other.
• Four different pitchers saw time in the circle for Niagara. Szilagyi started and went 3.0 innings before being relieved. In total, the Purple Eagles' pitching staff notched four strikeouts while giving up 12 hits, three walks, and seven runs (all earned).

 
On Deck

• The Battle of the Bridge picks up tomorrow, as Niagara has a road date with Canisius starting at noon.

 

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