BUFFALO, N.Y. – Niagara took game one of two by the final score of 11-5 to split Saturday afternoon's MAAC softball doubleheader against Fairfield at Nan Harvey Field on the campus of the University at Buffalo. The Stags took game two, 8-3.
Niagara is now 14-16 overall and 6-5 in league play, while Fairfield moves to 10-24 overall and 7-7 in conference action.
How it Happened
Game 1: Niagara 11, Fairfield 5
Niagara scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 lead over the Stags as a
Natasha Limbani singled home a run,
Hailey Cenname stole home, and
Lindsay Mayo hit a sacrifice fly to put the Purple Eagles ahead early on.
Shayna Myshrall added a run in the third with her seventh home run of the season, but it was a seven-run bottom of the fourth that put Niagara out of reach of the Stags in game one.
Samantha Hare highlighted the seven-run fourth with a grand slam, while Myshrall and Limbani also drove in runs to put the Purple Eagles up 11-0.
Maddie Hickingbottom allowed two hits through the first four innings while striking out three, before allowing five runs on six hits in the fifth. She would settle back in allowing just one baserunner over the final two innings to secure the 11-5 win for Niagara.
Niagara Notes
• Hare hit a home run for the third consecutive game.
• Myshrall is the first Purple Eagle to hit seven home runs in a season since Kendall Watkins had seven in 2019.
• Limbani recorded her second multi-RBI game and eighth multi-hit game of the season.
• Hickingbottom struck out six batters, her 11th game this season with five or more K's.
Game 2: Niagara 3, Fairfield 8
A pair of Niagara errors in the opening frame led to a two-run inning for the Stags, but
Lindsay Mayo would homer to begin the bottom of the first and cut the Fairfield lead in half.
Cara Leone would allow three more runs over the next three innings, putting Niagara in a 5-1 hole heading into the bottom of the fourth.
With the score still 5-1 in favor of the Stags in the bottom of the fifth, Niagara would score twice as Hare doubled to left center to score
Maggie Kellner and
Madison LaPenta and put the Purple Eagles down two, 5-3.
Julia Thompson would enter the circle in the sixth and allow three runs to the Stags in the frame.
Niagara would go down 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh, giving Fairfield the 8-3 win.
Niagara Notes
• Hare has 11 RBIs over the last five games after driving in two in game two.
• Limbani has a hit in six of her last seven games after going 1-for-3.
• Mayo's home run is her second of the season with both coming at Nan Harvey Field.
Up Next
Niagara and Fairfield will play the third and final game of the series on Sunday, April 14 beginning at 11 a.m. from Nan Harvey Field.
Stay connected with Niagara Softball on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on X, Instagram, Facebook, and purpleeagles.com.
