LONGWOOD, Fla. – A marathon day for the Niagara softball team ended in a split of its two games. The Purple Eagles fell in 10 innings against Valparaiso, but came back to win a slugfest over Penn, 10-9.


Game One: Valparaiso 5, Niagara 4 (10 inn.)

• Both pitchers kept the opposing offenses in check, allowing a combined four hits over the first three innings.
• In the top of the fourth, the Purple Eagles finally broke through and scored first. A leadoff single from Kendall Watkins got things moving. Maria Gabriele moved Watkins to second on a single of her own. A wild pitch sent both runners to second and third, and a sac fly from Rachel Funk allowed Watkins enough time to scurry home. After a 1-2-3 inning from Karsen Cotton in the bottom of the frame, the score stood at 1-0 Niagara.
• The top of the fifth saw the Purple eagles score once more. Riley Crum was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Bella Garone was asked to pinch run in her place. Two wild pitches advanced Garone to third, and another sac fly – this time from Kelsey Harrigan – brought Garone around to make it 2-0.
• Penn scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.
• Down to their last chance in the top of the seventh, Niagara mounted a comeback that wound up tying the game at 3-3. Shayna Myshrall opened the inning with a single into left, then was taken off the bases for pinch runner Avianna Peterson. A sac bunt by Crum got Peterson to second, and a Kaity McInall single moved Peterson to third. Two batters later, Maggie Vesneske hit a sac fly into center, allowing Peterson to tag and come home.
• Another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh by the Niagara defense sent the game into extras.
• With the international tiebreaker in effect, each half inning began with a runner on second. In the ninth, Heather Haberman was the Purple Eagles' runner that started in scoring position. Myshrall opened the frame with a double to instantly bring Haberman in and give Niagara the lead. However, in the bottom of the inning, Valpo tied the game with one out to move things into the 10th.
• The Crusaders wound up winning in the bottom of the 10th after Niagara stranded a runner at third.

 
Game One Stats Spotlight

• Myshrall (2-4, RBI), Harrigan (1-3, BB SF, RBI), and Vesneske (1-4, SF, RBI) led the way for Niagara's offense.
• Emily Johnston took the loss despite throwing 5.0 innings in relief, allowing just one hit and two runs (both unearned) while walking two batters and fanning four.

 
Game Two: Niagara 10, Penn 9

• After Penn deserted a runner at third in the top of the second, the Purple Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the inning to set the tone early. Crum managed a walk, and eventually scored from second when Kayla Raymond made it to first on a fielder's choice and throwing error by the Quakers' second baseman. Penn then loaded the bases with consecutive walks, allowing Vesneske to smack a double into the gap in right-center and clear the bases with two outs.
• The top of the third saw Penn score seven runs. They added two more in the fifth to make it 9-4, but the bottom half of the fifth saw Niagara claw back into the game and retake the lead. Watkins, Maria Gabriele, and Julia Thompson led off the inning with three straight singles that loaded the bases and prompted a pitching change. McInall was walked to plate Watkins, and Funk was then brought in to pinch hit with the bases still loaded. Funk put the ball through the left side, bringing Gabriele and Thompson in to make it 9-7 Penn. The next batter, Haberman, was also capitalized as a pinch hitter, and doubled to score two runs to level the score at 9-9. Now with two outs against, Vesneske slapped a shot up the right side that ricocheted off the first baseman's glove and rolled lazily to shallow right field. The play wound up scoring Peterson and was the go-ahead run for Niagara.
• The Purple Eagles clamped down to maintain the lead, sitting the Quakers down in order in the sixth and stranding a runner at third with two outs in the seventh.

 
Game Two Stats Spotlight

• Vesneske (3), Funk (2), and Haberman (2) all had multiple RBI for Niagara. Watkins went a team-best 2-4 from the dish and added a run scored.
• In the circle, Thompson got the win after entering in the fifth inning. She went 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with one strikeout.
• Johnston got a 1.0 inning save, with one walk, one hit, and one strikeout.

 
On Deck

• Niagara hits the diamond again on Saturday for games against Detroit Mercy and Longwood. The first game, against the Titans, will begin at 1:45 p.m. After that game concludes, the Purple Eagles and Lancers will square off at 4 p.m.

 

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