OLEAN, NY – The Purple and White got back into the win column Wednesday afternoon picking up a pair of wins over Little Three Rival St. Bonaventure in non-conference softball action from Olean, NY.
Game 1 Recap: Bona 2, Niagara 5
• After two shutdown innings from
Maddie Hickingbottom to start the contest, the Purple Eagles gave the senior right hander a two-run lead when
Sophia Marrero doubled to right center, driving in
Lindsay Mayo and
Kaity McInall.
• In the top of the fourth, after Bona tied the contest at two in the bottom of the third, Mayo came to the plate with
Bayleigh McCullough on base with two-outs and launched a ball over the left centerfield wall to give NU a 4-2 lead.
• Hickingbottom would set down eight in a row from the end of the third through the sixth, keeping the Purple Eagles on top by two.
• In the top of the seventh, and runners on second and third, freshman
Jolyn Gibbons popped up to second, allowing
Samantha Hare to score an insurance run for the Purple Eagles.
• Hickingbottom would shut the door in the seventh to secure the 5-2 win for NU.
Niagara Notes
• The Purple Eagles ended their 22-game losing streak.
• After going 2-for-3, Hare extended her hit streak to seven games.
• Mayo's homer in the fifth was her first of the season.
• Marrero's double in the third was her third of the season. The freshman now has five RBI on the season.
• Hickingbottom struck out nine en route to her third complete game of the season.
Game 2 Recap: Bona 0, Niagara 1
• Niagara scored a run in third when Hare grounded out to the right side, allowing
Madison LaPenta to come across and score the lone run of the ballgame.
•
Cara Leone got the start for Niagara, tossing 2.0 innings where she allowed just one hit and struck out two batters.
•
Riley Crum would come in to pitch in the third and put up 3.0 innings of work where she allowed just three hits, while striking out four.
• In the sixth,
Sage Jackson would come in to pitch the final two innings, striking out for en route to her first save of the season.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improves to 4-25 overall with the win.
• Crum got the win in the circle for Niagara, her first of the season.
•
Hailey Cenname led Niagara with two hits, while six other Purple Eagles registered one base knock.
Up Next
• Niagara resumes MAAC play this Saturday and Sunday when it heads to Manhattan and Saint Peter's, respectively. Saturday's twin bill with Jaspers is scheduled for a 10 a.m. start in Riverdale, N.Y.
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