Softball 4/8/2022 3:51:00 PM

Softball Resumes MAAC Play at Monmouth, Rider

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Purple and White look to bounce back from a pair of midweek losses on the road when they travel to The Garden State to take on MAAC foes Monmouth and Rider on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Saturday's doubleheader with the Hawks is scheduled to begin at noon in West Long Branch, NJ, and Sunday's date with the Broncs is set for an 11 a.m. start in Lawrenceville, N.J.

Last Time Out
• Niagara fell in both games of a doubleheader to Youngstown State.
• Game one went to extra's, with the Penguins winning in the eighth 4-3, while game two was decided by a score of 9-2.

Niagara Notes
• Niagara won the first four games of its MAAC schedule for the first time under head coach Larry Puzan. It also marks the team's best start to league play since it started 3-0 in 2008.
• Maggie Kellner leads Niagara with a .326 average and 10 doubles. The sophomore has six multi-hit games this season and has safely reached base in 13 of her 19 games. Kellner also leads the team in OPS (.910).
• Kelsey Harrigan has the teams' best on-base percentage (.433). Through 19 games this season. She has reached base 27 times and has come around to score a team-best 13 times.
• The Purple Eagles leader in home runs is Samantha Hare. The Kenmore, N.Y., native launched two over the wall against Holy Cross on March 13. Riley Crum and Alicia Nash also have long balls this season.
• Hare also leads the Purple and White with 16 RBI and has five games this season with two or more batted in.
• A total of six Purple Eagles have double-digit hits this season, led by Kellner's 21.
• Niagara has allowed 90 runs over 119.1 innings this season.
• Riley Crum leads NU with a 2.02 ERA. She has a 3-2 record in seven starts this season and has surrendered 12 runs and 23 hits in 27.2 innings of work.
• Maddie Hickingbottom is Niagara's No. 2 starter. The UB transfer has pitched 36.2 innings, allowing 38 runs on 43 hits.
• Niagara's Cara Leone and Julia Thompson have amassed 51.0 innings in relief. Leone has a 3.87 ERA, and Thompson has a 2.94 ERA and two saves.

Series History: Monmouth
• Niagara and Monmouth have met 16 times coming into Saturday's DH.
• The Hawks lead the all-time series, 13-3.
• Niagara last beat Monmouth on April 22, 2017, by a score of 6-3.

Series History: Rider
• Since 2013, Niagara sports a 22-16 record against the Broncs, including a 10-12 road record.
• Niagara and Rider have split the last 10 meetings.
• In a four-game set with the Broncs last season, the Purple Eagles went 1-3 and scored 11 runs.

Up Next
• Niagara will wrap up its home-and-home series with Youngstown State on Tuesday, April 12. The two teams will meet for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

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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

#33 Alicia Nash: C; 5' 9"; Junior; R

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

#33 Alicia Nash
: 5' 9"; Junior; R
: C

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

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

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