NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara softball team split its Tuesday afternoon doubleheader with rival Canisius, winning the first game 7-6 in walk-off fashion, followed by a 7-6 loss in game two.
The Purple Eagles move to 12-15 overall and 4-4 in MAAC play while the Griffs move to 12-13 and 6-2 in league action.
How it Happened
Game 1: Niagara 7, Canisius 6
After a scoreless top half of the first for
Maddie Hickingbottom, Niagara's
Sophia Marrero came through in the bottom half to get Niagara on the board with a single to right to score
Brianna Delaney.
Hailey Cenname would make it a 2-0 ballgame with her first home run of the season an inning later.
The Griffs would get their bats going against Hickingbottom in the third, scoring five runs, including three on a home run by Gianna Fazzolari, giving Canisius a 5-2 lead.
The Canisius lead would grow to 6-2 with a run in the top of the fourth, but the Purple and White would respond with a three-run bottom half as Cenname connected on her second home run of the game and
Lindsay Mayo and
Samantha Hare drove in runs to get the Purple and White within one, 6-5.
Canisius would remain ahead by one heading into the bottom half of the seventh, Niagara's final at-bats. Mayo would get plunked to start the inning and move into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt from Hare, followed by Delaney tying the game as she reached on an error, allowing Mayo to come home.
With the game tied at seven and runners on first and second, Marrero would single into right, allowing Delaney to come around to score, beating the throw from the Canisius outfield and giving Niagara the 7-6 win over Canisius.
Niagara Notes
• The win was Niagara's first over Canisius since May 5, 2021.
• Cenname became the third Purple Eagle this season to record a multi-homer game.
• Mayo recorded her 12th multi-hit game of the season while Marrero notched her fourth of the season and third in a row.
• Hickingbottom recorded her fourth-straight start with at least five strikeouts.
• Cenname recorded her first two RBI game of her career.
Game 2: Niagara 6, Canisius 7
Canisius jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as they got a leadoff home run from McGee-Ross off
Cara Leone, who got the nod for Niagara in game two.
Leone would allow three more runs in the top of the third, putting Niagara in a 4-0 hole heading into the bottom half of the frame, where it would get one run back as Delaney doubled to left center, allowing Hare to score from first.
The Golden Griffins would then strike for two more runs against Leone before she was relieved by Hickingbottom with one out in the fifth. Hickingbottom would allow a home run to the first batter she faced before getting out of the inning with Canisius leading 7-1.
The Purple Ealges scored twice on the bottom of the fifth via a two-run home run for Hare, her first of the season, before adding three more in the bottom of the sixth, as Kellner singled home a run and Mayo connected on a two RBI double to put Niagara down by one, 7-6.
Canisius' Megan Giese would enter the circle for the Griffs to get the four-out save as Niagara failed to push across the tying run.
Niagara Notes
• Hare's home run is her first since March 11, 2023.
• Marrero extended her hit streak to 12-straight games.
• Delaney recorded her seventh multi-hit game in the last eight games. The Lockport, N.Y., native also registered her third game this season with multiple doubles and currently leads Niagara with nine.
•
Natasha Limbani went 2-for-3 at the plate, her seventh multi-hit game of the season. The freshman has a hit in three of her last four games.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles and Golden Griffins will conclude their three-game set on Wednesday, April 10 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
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