BUFFALO, N.Y. – For the fourth straight season, the Niagara softball team took at least one game from archrival Canisius in the annual Battle of the Bridge doubleheader. The Purple Eagles lost a close decision in the first game before shutting down the Golden Griffins in game two.
 
Canisius 5, Niagara 4

• A leadoff walk to Maggie Vesneske got things rolling for the Niagara offense, as Vesneske moved to second on a sac bunt and to third on a groundout to second base. With Jerri Ann Orfano at the dish, a wild pitch found its way to the backstop and allowed Vesneske to slide home. Orfano then proceeded to double before Kendall Watkins got her home on a single through the right side.
• Leading 2-0 after one, the Purple Eagles added to their lead in the top of the second. Jennifer Timm was hit by a pitch and took her free base with one out. With Timm on first, Vesneske cranked a double into right that got Timm the rest of the way around to make it 3-0.
• Rachel Funk made it aboard to lead off the third when a throw from the pitcher to first went awry. Funk took second on a sac bunt before Maria Gabriele singled to score her with a hard single to center field.
• Vesneske went 3-for-3 and added a walk from the leadoff position, scoring once and tallying one RBI. Altogether Niagara combined for eight hits.
• Sierra Bertrand got the start in the circle and went 5.0 innings with five runs (two earned), 10 hits, and five strikeouts. In relief, Jennifer Szilagyi tossed 1.0 innings of two hit, one strikeout ball.

 
Niagara 1, Canisius 0

• In the top of the first, Niagara loaded the bases with two outs via a hit by pitch and two walks to three consecutive batters before the Griffs ended the threat before the Purple Eagles could capitalize.
• Jenna Patterson's leadoff double in the top of the second got the team its first hit of the game. Two batters later, Patterson found her way home when Szilagyi singled up the gut, making it 1-0.
• Canisius got its leadoff batters on in both the third and fourth innings, but four groundouts, a caught stealing, and a rundown at home plate ended each frame in three straight outs.
• Starting with the Golden Griffins' second hitter in the fourth inning, the Niagara defense recorded 12 consecutive outs, including 1-2-3 in the fifth, sixth, and seventh frames.
• Gabriele, Patterson, and Szilagyi accounted for all the hits Niagara recorded.
• Szilagyi also threw a complete game, going the full 7.0 innings and allowing just five hits and no walks to shut out the Griffs for the third time in the teams' past four meetings.
• Dating back to 2017, Niagara has held Canisius to just six total runs and has kept the Griffs scoreless for 33 of the last 35 innings. In that span, Szilagyi has been able to frustrate the Canisius offense for 20.2 innings that have seen her give up just one run and 15 hits to go along with eight strikeouts.

 
On Deck

• The Purple Eagles will trek to Pittsburgh for a twofer at Robert Morris University. First pitch will be at 3 p.m.

 

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