NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara returns to Monteagle Ridge for a pair of MAAC softball doubleheaders this weekend. On Saturday, the Purple Eagles will take on Saint Peter's starting at 12 p.m. followed by a twin bill with Manhattan on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Last Time Out
• Niagara fell to Syracuse Thursday 6-2.
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Shayna Myshrall and
Bayleigh McCullough drove in the two Purple Eagles runs in the loss.
Niagara Notes
• The Purple Eagles are 12-20 overall and 6-6 in league play this season.
• Niagara enters the weekend 6-0 at home this season.
• Sophomore
Maggie Kellner leads the Purple Eagles with a .310 batting average and 12 doubles.
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Samantha Hare, who is six for her last 14 at the plate, has a team-high four home runs and 23 RBI and is currently batting .301. Hare also leads the team with an .845 OPS.
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Shayna Myshrall hit her first home run of the season in Niagara's loss to Syracuse. It was the junior's first long ball since March of 2021.
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Maggie Vesneske and
Kelsey Harrigan have combined to score 42 runs and steal 20 bags this season. Vesneske is 12-for-13 on stolen base attempts.
• Harrigan leads the team with 18 free passes and is third on the squad with 32 total bases.
• In the circle,
Riley Crum has a team-high five wins with an ERA of 2.79. Crum has pitched 52.0 ininngs and struck out 34.
• Transfer
Maddie Hickingbottom has 91 K's on the season and struck out a season-high 14 against YSU on April 12. Hickingbottom is the first Purple Eagle to punch out 90 batters in a season since Sierra Bertrand struck out 109 in 2019.
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Julia Thompson has made 19 appearances out of the pen this season, posting a team-best 2.72 ERA. In league play the the junior right hander has a 0.53 ERA.
• As a team, Niagara is scoring 3.38 runs per game while allowing 4.6. In league play the Purple Eagles have scored 40 runs over 12 games.
Series History: Saint Peter's
• Niagara is currently on a 14-game win streak against Saint Peter's, including a four-game sweep of the Peacocks in 2021.
• During the win streak, Niagara has outscored the Peacocks 101-42.
Series History: Manhattan
• Niagara and Manhattan have played each other 40 times since the 2003 season with Niagara winning 21 of those matchups.
• The Purple Eagles and Jaspers have split the last 10 meetings, including last year's four game set.
Up Next
• The Purple Eagles will host Saint Peter's and Manhattan this weekend for a pair of MAAC softball doubleheaders.
