LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Strong pitching performances from
Maddie Hickingbottom,
Cara Leone, and
Julia Thompson, and a two-run blast from freshman
Brianna Delaney lifted Niagara (21-17, 12-5 MAAC) to two wins over Siena (22-18, 7-9 MAAC) on Tuesday afternoon in MAAC softball action.
The Purple Eagles earned a 1-0 win over the Saints in game one, followed by a 3-1 victory in game two.
How it Happened
Game 1: Niagara 1, Siena 0
A pitchers dual in game one saw five scoreless innings before the Purple Eagles scored the lone run of the contest in the top of the sixth when
Hannah Mingle crossed the plate on a throwing error by the Saints.
Hickingbottom allowed four total baserunners across seven shutout innings, earning the complete game victory.
Niagara Notes
• Hickingbottom punched out 11 Saints in the contest, a season-high for the graduate right-hander.
• The complete game shutout is Hickingbottom's second of the season and second in her last three starts.
•
Samantha Hare led Niagara with two hits, her seventh multi-hit game of the season.
Game 2: Niagara 3, Siena 1
The second game of Tuesday's twin bill started much like the first with four innings of scoreless softball, before Niagara opened the scoring in the fifth on a base hit into left from
Selah Moyer that scored
Sophia Marrero from third.
Leone allowed four hits and no runs through the first four innings of play before the Saints used back-to-back one-out singles in the fifth to force Leone from the game.
Thompson would come into the circle for the Purple Eagles, inheriting the two runners, one of which would score to tie the game at 1-1, before the righty got out of the inning.
With one away and a runner on in the top of the sixth,
Brianna Delaney would lunch a ball over the left field wall to give Niagara a 3-1 lead over the Saints.
The score would remain the same for the final inning and a half as the Purple and White earned a 3-1 win.
Niagara Notes
• The home run by Delaney was her fifth of the season while the two RBI gives her 23 for the season, both of which are second-most on the team.
• Marrero recorded her 10th double of the season and is now tied for the team lead.
• Thompson earned the win in relief, her seventh of the season.
• Niagara has won six-straight games, the longest win streak for NU since it won eight in a row in 2013.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles will go for the sweep of the Saints on Wednesday, April 24 at noon. The game will be streamed live on Siena All-Access.
Stay connected with Niagara Softball on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on X, Instagram, Facebook, and purpleeagles.com.
