NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Purple and White dropped both games of their twin bill with Siena Saturday afternoon in MAAC softball action. Niagara falls to 14-23 overall and 8-10 in conference play while the Saints improve to 28-21 overall and 14-6 in MAAC play.
Game 1 Recap
• The Saints scored the game's lone run in the top of the first.
• Niagara wouldn't collect their first hit of the game until the bottom of the sixth when
Maggie Kellner singled down the left field line with two outs.
• The Purple Eagles finished the game with three hits, one by Kellner, and one from
Maggie Vesneske and
Madison Rastello.
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Riley Crum got the start in game one, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
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Cara Leone took over in the circle for Crum in the fifth. The junior allowed three hits in her 3.0 innings pitched while striking out one.
Game 2 Recap
• The Purple Eagles got on the board first in game two when Rastello drove in
Hannah Mingle with the bases loaded to give NU a 1-0 lead in the second.
• Siena would strike for four runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead over Niagara.
• NU would record its second run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth when a groundout by Mingle allowed
Madison LaPenta to score from third. LaPenta pinch ran for Kellner who began the inning with a single.
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Samantha Hare finished game two 2-for-4 at the plate, including a double in the seventh.
• Five Purple Eagles recorded at least one hit in the second game of the day.
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Maddie Hickingbottom got the start for the Purple and White, going 4.1 innings before being relieved by
Julia Thompson in the fifth.
• Hickingbottom recorded four strikeouts while allowing four runs on seven hits.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara finishes the season 8-4 at home.
• Rastello, Hare and Kellner each collected two hits Saturday afternoon. Rastello added an RBI to her stat line.
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Kelsey Harrigan reached base a team-best three times against Siena, walking twice to go with a base knock.
• Niagara struck out seven Siena Saints on the afternoon with Hickingbottom posting a team-high four.
• LaPenta recorded her third stolen base and ninth run scored in game two of the doubleheader.
Up Next
• The Purple Eagles will head to downtown Buffalo, N.Y. to take on Battle of the Bridge Rival Canisius Sunday afternoon. First pitch between the Purple Eagles and Golden Griffins is scheduled for 3 p.m. from the Demske Sports Complex.
