NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Niagara softball team heads to Auburn, Alabama for a three-game series with No. 19 Auburn Friday, April 15 through Saturday, April 16. All three games of the series will air on the SEC Network+.
Last Time Out
• Niagara took both game of its doubleheader with Youngstown State.
• The Purple Eagles edged the Penguins in game one, 7-6, followed by a 2-0 shutout of YSU in game two.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improved to 11-14 overall with its two wins over YSU on Tuesday while also improving to 6-0 at their home ballpark.
• As a team, Niagara has a batting average of .242, on base percentage of .340 and slugging percentage of .316.
• Sophomore
Maggie Kellner leads Niagara with a .333 batting average, followed by
Kelsey Harrigan who is batting .310.
• Kellner also leads NU with 26 hits, 11 doubles and a .474 slugging percentage. She is second on the team with 13 RBI.
• Harrigan, the Purple Eagles center fielder, leads the team with a .449 on base percentage. The grad student has reached base a total of 38 times, leading to a team-best 19 runs scored.
• Short stop
Maggie Vesneske leads Niagara with 10 stolen bases this season and the speedster has only been caught once. Harrigan is second on the team with eight stolen bases.
• Right fielder
Samantha Hare is the team leader in RBI with 19. The sophomore is batting .385 with runners in scoring position. Her average jumps to .429 with a runner on third and two away.
•
Riley Crum has the best ERA on the team, entering the weekend with a 2.29 ERA over 39.2 innings of work. The junior also leads the team with five wins in the circle.
• Transfer
Maddie Hickingbottom punched out 14 batters in her start against YSU, pitching a complete game shutout. Hickingbottom has a team-high 74 K's on the year.
• Relief pitcher
Julia Thompson has made a team-high 15 apperances out of the pen. The right hander has a team-high three saves on the season.
• Niagara starters have thrown six complete games with four ending without allowing a run.
Series History
• This weekend's series is the first ever meeting between the two schools.
Up Next
• Niagara will return to Monteagle Ridge for a doubleheader against Little Three Rival St. Bonaventure Tuesday, April 19.
• The twin bill will conclude a four-game set between the two WNY schools.
