POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Niagara softball team extended its postseason run by exacting revenge and taking out Iona in the first game of the day before ultimately falling to Marist, ending the season.
 
Niagara 7, Iona 2

• The Purple Eagles surged to a 4-0 lead in the top half of the second, keyed by a Jerri Ann Orfano home run to break the scoreless deadlock. Kendall Watkins followed with a walk before eventually scoring on a double by Rachel Funk. Funk was then plated by Jenna Patterson, who singled through the right side. Kelsey Harrigan's double to left eventually scored Patterson before the frame came to an end.
• A leadoff blast by Maria Gabriele in the third opened the team's lead to 5-0.
• In the fourth, Niagara continued to pile it on when Orfano knocked her second homer of the game, scoring Maggie Vesneske to push the lead to 7-0.
• Funk, Harrigan, and Orfano each had multiple hits, with Funk going 3-for-3 to lead the offense. Orfano, meanwhile, accounted for three RBI.
• Starter Sierra Bertrand and reliever Karsen Cotton combined to allow 10 baserunners and one hit apiece while fanning eight in the victory.

 
Marist 5, Niagara 4

• After the Red Foxes got up 5-0 after three, the Purple Eagles began chipping away at the lead in the fourth. Watkins, who got on via fielder's choice, came in from second on a single by Funk.
• The sixth inning brought more runs for Niagara wen Watkins and Morgan Genovese – running for Orfano – both scored on a fielding error by the left fielder following a single from Patterson, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
• It became a one-run game in the top of the seventh when Maggie Vesneske hit a one-out single to get aboard. After a walk set her up at second, the sophomore crossed the dish when Orfano lined out to the circle but the pitcher committed a throwing error.
• Vesneske got three hits in four at-bats for the Purple Eagles, while Watkins also had multiple hits with a 2-for-4 effort.
• In relief, Bertrand gave up just two hits and a walk to keep the Red Foxes off the board with four strikeouts.

 

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