WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Niagara split Saturday's doubleheader at Monmouth, picking up a 5-0 victory in game one, followed by a 5-4 loss in game two.
Game 1 Recap: W, 5-0
• Niagara's starter
Riley Crum pitched 4.0 shutout innings, allowing three hits, two walks and striking out three of her 17 batters faced.
• She was relieved by
Julia Thompson in the fifth and the junior pitched 3.0 scoreless innings, punching out two and not allowing a single baserunner.
• The Purple Eagles scored twice in the first inning on a double steal that resulted in a throwing error by the catcher, allowing
Maggie Vesneske and
Kelsey Harrigan to score.
• The score would remain the same until the top of the sixth when Niagara added a third run another Hawk miscue, allowing
Madison LaPenta to come across.
• An inning later, the Purple and White added two insurance runs courtesy of a Maddie Kellner double, scoring
Samantha Hare and Harrigan, to give the game its 5-0 final.
Game 2 Recap: L, 4-5
• Niagara once again scored twice in the first inning, this time it was
Kaity McInall who drove in two with a bases loaded single to left. Vesneske and Harrigan scored on the play.
• In the home half of the first, Monmouth took its first lead of the afternoon after pushing three runs across.
• The Purple and White would retake the lead with a two-run fourth inning.
• The game-tying run came across when Vesneske scored on a passed ball, followed by Harrigan crossing the plate on a SAC fly to right by McInall.
• Monmouth tied the game, 4-4, in the fifth and won the game on a walk-off single in the seventh.
•
Maddie Hickingbottom made the start in game two, going 5.0 innings. The transfer allowed four runs on three hits and struck out eight in the no-decision.
• Thompson once again came in to relieve the NU starter, this time pitching 1.2 innings before allowing the game-winning run to score.
Niagara Notes
• With the split, Niagara is now 4-14 all-time against the Hawks.
• Vesneske, who came into the day with five stolen bases, swiped four bags, including a career-high three in game one.
• The grad student went 4-for-7 at the plate, collecting three hits in game one.
• The six stolen bases in game one is a season-high for Niagara.
• The Purple and White recorded their fifth game this season with double-digit hits after collecting 11 in the latter of today's doubleheader.
• Four Purple Eagles recorded at least two hits in the second game.
• Harrigan reached base a total of eight times against Monmouth. The outfielder has now reached base safely in seven of the last eight games.
• Kellner recorded her 10th double of the season in game one.
• McInall finished the day with three RBI.
Up Next
• Niagara will head to Lawrenceville, N.J., for a twin bill with the Rider Broncs Sunday, April 10 beginning at 11 a.m.
