NIAGARA UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL
Niagara Purple Eagles (4-21, 3-5 MAAC) at Robert Morris Colonials (10-25, 3-3 MAAC)
DATE | TIME	Tuesday, April 9| 3 PM (DH)
LOCATION	North Athletic Complex – Moon Township, PA
LIVE VIDEO	NECFrontRow.com
LIVE STATS	Sidearm Stats

Playing its fourth doubleheader in seven days, the Niagara softball team will head to suburban Pittsburgh for a double dip with the Robert Morris Colonials on Tuesday.
 
Matchup Preview

• This meeting marks the sixth consecutive season that Niagara and Robert Morris have met during the regular season. The Purple Eagles have won each matchup dating back to 2017, going 3-0 against the Colonials and outscoring them 19-5 in those games.
• Since first squaring off in 1992, the Purple Eagles have gone 9-8 in 17 meetings with Robert Morris. Niagara's last game in Moon Township came in 2014, with the Purple Eagles winning, 2-0.

 
Niagara Notes

• The Purple Eagles split a pair of conference series over the weekend, first with Siena and then at Canisius.
• Maggie Vesneske's .300 batting average leads the Purple Eagles' offense. Vesneske went a combined 6-for-14 against the Saints and Golden Griffins with two runs scored and an RBI.
• In the team's last five games, Maria Gabriele has accounted for nine RBI, giving her 10 on the year.
• Reliever Emily Johnston holds a 2.37 ERA through 20.2 innings pitched. The junior has only allowed seven earned runs and collected one save while holding opposing hitters to a .262 batting average.
• Niagara is a perfect 8-for-8 on the year in stolen bases, tied with Rider for the best percentage in the conference.

 
Scouting The Colonials

• The Colonials have split each of their last two series, at Saint Bonaventure on April 3 and at Saint Francis (PA) on April 6. In its lone home series of the season so far, the squad split a doubleheader with Cleveland State on March 27, winning, 6-5, before falling, 8-5.
• Natalie Higgins' .302 batting average leads the Colonials. She also has a team-best 19 RBI and .519 slugging percentage.
• Abrielle McCartney has gone 6-for-6 stealing bases this season, the best rate on the roster.
• With an mark of 4.38 in 96.0 innings, Dana Watkins has the lowest ERA on the Robert Morris pitching staff.

 
 
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