POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Facing another elimination game at the MAAC Softball Championship, the Niagara softball team overcame an early deficit to defeat Siena, 5-1, and play into the third day of the conference tournament. The victory was the second of the day for the Purple Eagles, who sent Fairfield home in the 9 a.m. contest this morning.
 
Niagara 5, Siena 1

• The Saints scored in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0, but the Niagara bats sprung to life in the second to surge the Purple Eagles ahead. Heather Haberman crushed a leadoff home run to center field on a full count to tie things up. Rachel Funk followed with a walk before eventually coming in via a sac bunt and a throwing error on a batted ball by game one hero Kelsey Harrigan. Harrigan then moved from first to third when Maggie Vesneske singled up the gut to get runners on the corners. With Maria Gabriele at the dish and two outs on the Purple Eagles, both runners took off on a double steal, with Harrigan safely making it a 3-1 ballgame.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Jennifer Timm led off with a double into center, then took third when Jenna Patterson sacrifice bunted her over. A long fly ball into foul territory from Harrigan gave Timm enough time to coast another 60 feet and plate Niagara's fourth run of the game.
• The offense didn't stop there, as an error by the Siena left fielder allowed Jenna Patterson to reach first in the top of the sixth. Morgan Genovese then entered to run for Patterson and was scored after a single by Harrigan and a groundout by Vesneske.
• Vesneske and Gabriele each went 2-for-4 to account for four of the team's eight hits.
• Jennifer Szilagyi got the start and allowed seven baserunners but just one run in 3.0 innings of work. Karsen Cotton entered in relief and gave up one hit to go along with four strikeouts.

 
On Deck

• Niagara will tangle with No. 4 Iona once again tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Iona let a one-run lead slip away in their contest today versus Marist, which saw the Red Foxes walk off in the seventh inning.

 

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