Softball Hosts YSU Tuesday

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Purple Eagles will host Youngstown State Tuesday afternoon for a 2 p.m. doubleheader at the Niagara Softball Field, marking the first of seven-straight non-conference games for the Purple and White.

Last Time Out
• Niagara went 1-3 during its first MAAC road trip of 2022.
• The Purple Eagles split their doubleheader with Monmouth on Saturday, winning game one 5-0 before falling in game two, 5-4.
• On Sunday, Rider stifled the Niagara offense, sweeping the twin bill.

Niagara Notes
• On the season, Niagara is 9-14 overall and 5-3 in MAAC play.
• As a team, the Purple Eagles hit .242 and have a team ERA of 4.39.
• Junior Riley Crum leads NU with a 1.77 ERA and four wins in the circle, while transfer Maddie Hickingbottom leads the Purple Eagles with 58 K's in 47.2 innings.
• Hickingbottom pitched her second complete game of the season in the loss to Rider. The starter pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and punching out four.
• At the plate, Kelsey Harrigan and Maggie Kellner lead Niagara with averages of .333 and .324, respectively. Harrigan also has a team-best .463 on-base percentage.
• Kellner leads Niagara with 23 hits, 10 of which have gone for extra bases. The sophomore is second on the team with 12 RBI.
• Right fielder Samantha Hare is hitting .258 and leads the Purple Eagles with three home runs and 16 RBI.
• Maggie Vesneske swiped four bags this past weekend and now has nine on the season. The graduate student has only been caught stealing once this season.
• Julia Thompson leads Niagara with 14.0 innings out of the pen, collecting two saves.
• Cara Leone has appeared in the circle 16 times this season, 13 of which have come in relief.
• Infielder Kaity McInall drove in three runs during game two of Niagara's doubleheader at Monmouth and now has nine runs batted in on the year.

Series History
• The Purple Eagles dropped the first two games against Youngstown State last Tuesday and are now 6-20 against the Penguins all-time.
• This will mark the first time Niagara has hosted the Penguins since 2019.
• YSU is currently on a five-game win streak against Niagara.

Up Next
• The Purple Eagles travel to Auburn, Ala., for a three-game set with No. 22 Auburn on April 15 and 16.

Stay connected with Niagara Softball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and purpleeagles.com.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Riley Crum: P/1B; 5' 7"; Junior; R

#9 Samantha Hare: OF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R

#15 Kelsey Harrigan: OF; 5' 4"; Graduate Student; L

#24 Maggie Kellner: C/3B; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R

#14 Kaity McInall: SS/2B; 5' 9"; Junior; L

#42 Julia Thompson: 1B/P; 5' 11"; Junior; R

#5 Maggie Vesneske: SS/2B; 5' 3"; Graduate Student; R

#16 Maddie Hickingbottom: P; 5' 8"; Junior; R

#21 Cara Leone: P; 5' 8"; Junior; R

Players Mentioned

#11 Riley Crum
: 5' 7"; Junior; R
: P/1B

#9 Samantha Hare
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R
: OF

#15 Kelsey Harrigan
: 5' 4"; Graduate Student; L
: OF

#24 Maggie Kellner
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R
: C/3B

#14 Kaity McInall
: 5' 9"; Junior; L
: SS/2B

#42 Julia Thompson
: 5' 11"; Junior; R
: 1B/P

#5 Maggie Vesneske
: 5' 3"; Graduate Student; R
: SS/2B

#16 Maddie Hickingbottom
: 5' 8"; Junior; R
: P

#21 Cara Leone
: 5' 8"; Junior; R
: P