BALTIMORE, MD – The Purple Eagles picked up a 12-10 win over UMBC in a 10 inning affair to earn a split on day one of the UMBC Round Robin Saturday in non-conference softball action.
Game 1 Recap: F/8: Kent State 2, Niagara 1
• The Golden Flashes got things going in the top of the second with a pair of doubles to start the inning leading to a 1-0 lead over Niagara.
• Kent State would have a runner in scoring position in the third, but
Maddie Hickingbottom would punch out the final two batters of the inning to keep Niagara down by one heading into the bottom of the third.
• The Purple Eagles would load the bases in the bottom of the third, leading to a run on a
Samantha Hare single to left field.
Bayleigh McCullough would be thrown out at home trying to score the go-ahead run.
• Niagara would put the go-ahead run on second in the bottom of the sixth and seventh but that is as close as they'd get to taking the lead before heading to extra's.
• With runners on second and third, Kent State would score its second run of the contest in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly to left.
• The Golden Flashes would shut down the Niagara offense in the bottom of the eight to earn the 2-1 win.
Niagara Notes
• Saturday's contest marked the first ever meeting between Niagara and Kent State.
• Hickingbottom finished with six strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work, allowing five hits and one run, while walking three.
•
Cara Leone was handed the loss after coming into the contest in relief of Hickingbottom.
•
Lindsay Mayo collected her first hit as a Purple Eagle in the loss.
• Hare, who finished 2022 with a team-best 25 RBI, collected her fist of the season.
Game 2 Recap: F/10: Niagara 12, UMBC 10
• After two innings of play UMBC would have a 2-0 lead over Niagara.
• In the top of the third,
Lindsay Mayo drove in NU's first run and she later scored on a
Hannah Mingle single. Mingle and Sma Hare would come around to score on a
Shayna Myshrall single, giving NU a 3-2 lead.
• An inning later, Hare would drive in a pair of Purple Eagles to give Niagara a 6-3 advantage.
• UMBC would tie the game at six and later take a two-run lead in the fifth.
•
Maggie Kellner would score on a Retriever error in the seventh to tie the game at 8-8.
• The two teams would trade runs in the eighth to go into the 10th inning tied at nine.
• With Mayo at second to start the extra frame, Hare would lace one to the left field wall, driving in her fourth run of the ballgame and giving NU a 10-9 advantage.
• Niagara would push across two more in the 10th, the first on a Myshrall single that pushed across Hare to make it an 11-9 game. Myshrall would later score on a fielder's choice for Niagara's 12th run.
• UMBC would get one back in the bottom half but
Julia Thompson would close the door and secure NU's first win of 2023.
Niagara Notes
• Thompson pitched 5.0 innings in relief, punching out seven and earning her first win of the season.
• Myshrall and Hare combined to go 5-for-12 at the dish, driving in seven runs, led by Hare's four RBI.
• Mayo led NU with three runs scored, while three Purple Eagles, Mingle, Hare and
Madison LaPenta each scored twice.
• Niagara swiped four bags against UMBC, led by LaPenta who snagged two bags.
• Saturday was the 20th meeting all-time between Niagara and UMBC and first since 2014. The Purple Eagles are now 8-12 against the Retrievers.
Up Next
• Niagara will once again take on UMBC and Kent State during day two of the UMBC Round Robin. First pitch between the Purple Eagles and Golden Flashes is set for 11 a.m. from The Diamond at UMBC.
