POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – In the midst of another tight game at the MAAC Softball Championship, the Niagara softball team turned the script and extended its season thanks to a walk-off home run from sophomore Kelsey Harrigan. The blast gave the Purple Eagles a 3-2 win over Fairfield, eliminating the Stags to set up another showdown at 4:30 PM against Siena.
 
Niagara 3, Fairfield 2

• Fairfield wasted little time putting runs up, as a double just three batters in made it a 1-0 ballgame. In the bottom of the first, the Purple Eagles were able to respond when Maggie Vesneske swatted a one-out solo homer to even the score.
• The second inning saw Niagara take the lead when Kendall Watkins, who led off with a walk, came around on two successive sacrifice bunts before Harrigan singled into right with the bases loaded to plate Watkins to make it 2-1.
• The Stags evened things up in the sixth but stranded more runners, putting Niagara in position to win in the bottom of the seventh. With one out against the Purple Eagles, Harrigan sent a long fly ball over the center field wall to ensure the team would play again.
• Niagara got great results from its pitchers, Karsen Cotton and Sierra Bertrand. Cotton opened the game and allowed one run on just three hits. Bertrand closed out the final 4.0 frames, restricting the Stags to one run (unearned) on two hits and three walks while fanning four batters.

 
On Deck

• Niagara will face the Siena, who dropped their game against Monmouth by an 11-1 score, at 4:30 p.m. today.

 

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