MADEIRA BEACH, FL – Niagara played two games Sunday in Madeira Beach, Fla., the first a 5-4 loss to Holy Cross and the second, a 7-4 extra-innings loss to Merrimack.
Game 1 Recap: vs. Holy Cross – L, 4-5
• The Purple Eagles got out to an early 3-0 lead courtesy of a three-run home run by
Samantha Hare.
• The Purple and White would hold on to that lead until the bottom half of the second when Holy Cross got one across to trim NU's lead to two.
• Hare would hit her second home run of the afternoon in the top of the fourth, a solo shot to give the Purple Eagles a 4-1 lead.
• In the bottom half of the fifth inning Holy Cross scored three runs to tie the game at four.
• Holy Cross would walk it off in the bottom half of the seventh, completing the comeback over NU.
Game 2 Recap: vs. Merrimack – L, 4-7 (9 innings)
• Niagara and Merrimack played six scoreless innings to start the afternoon, before Merrimack scored the game's first run in the top of the seventh.
• Niagara tied the game in the bottom half with a
Kelsey Harrigan double that scored
Karena Recrosio.
• The game would remain tied until the top of the ninth when Merrimack put a six spot to take a 7-1 lead.
• In the home half of the inning, the Purple Eagles would score three runs but the final out would come before Niagara could complete the comeback.
•
Shayna Myshrall, Hare and
Maggie Kellner drove in the runs for Niagara in the ninth.
• Transfer
Maddie Hickingbottom got the start for NU, pitching 7.0 innings before being relieved by
Cara Leone in the eighth.
Niagara Notes
• The Purple and White were led by Hare who ended the day with five RBI, including two home runs.
• Hickingbottom finished with eight strikeouts in her seven innings of work.
• Kellner had three hits against Merrimack, her second three-hit game of the season.
• Harrigan picked up two hits in the second game of the day after hitless in the earlier game against Holy Cross.
• Niagara's pitchers struck out a total of 14 opposing batters.
Up Next
• Niagara will get a day off on Monday before returning to the field on Tuesday for two games with Lafayette. First pitch of the doubleheader will be at 11:30 a.m. The games can be seen live on FloSoftball.com.
