NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Purple Eagles dropped both games of Sunday's doubleheader at Canisius to conclude the 2022 regular season. Niagara finishes the 2022 season 14-26 overall and 8-12 in MAAC play.
Game 1 Recap
• The Purple Eagles were held without a hit in the opener of Sunday's twin bill as the Griffs defeated NU by the score of 9-0.
• Canisius scored four in the first, one in the second, and four in the fourth en rout to victory.
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Riley Crum, who got the start in the circle for NU, was the lone Niagara baserunner.
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Cara Leone relieved Crum in the first inning and pitched 4.0 innings, allowing six runs on six hits.
Game 2 Recap
• In the night cap, Canisius defeated the Purple Eagles 8-0 in five innings.
• The Purple and White picked up five hits in game two from five different players.
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Samantha Hare recorded a double and
Kelsey Harrigan reached base twice with a single and a walk.
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Maddie Hickingbottom got the start for Niagara, going 4.2 innings before being relieved by
Julia Thompson.
• Hickingbottom punched out five batters in the outing.
• The Griffs scored six runs in the fifth to secure the win.
Niagara Notes
• Hickingbottom finished her first season on Monteagle Ridge with 114 strikeouts, the most by a Purple Eagle since Sierra Bertrand punched out 118 in 2019.
• Hare finished the year with a team-best .319 average, finishing second on the team with 37 hits. The outfielder also led Niagara with four home runs and 25 RBI
• Sophomore
Maggie Kellner led NU with 38 hits and 15 doubles.
• Harrigan finished the year with 22 walks, two walks shy of her career-high 24 she set during her junior season.
• Thompson led Niagara with a 2.85 ERA in 23 appearances out of the pen. In conference play the junior had a 1.45 ERA.
• Niagara has picked up eight or more league wins in each of the last five seasons (not including the 2020 season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)
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Kelsey Harrigan and
Maggie Vesneske appeared in their final games as Purple Eagles this afternoon, capping off stellar careers as members of the Purple and White.
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Heather Haberman's career as a Purple Eagle also came to a close this weekend, The graduate student played in eight games this season, including four starts.
