BALTIMORE, Md. - The Niagara Purple Eagles split a doubleheader with UMBC on Saturday at The Diamond, winning a back-and-forth opener 11-8 before falling 7-6 in the nightcap.
 
Game 1: Niagara 11, UMBC 8
After building an early 5-1 lead through four innings, Niagara (1-0) had to hold off a late UMBC rally to secure the victory. The Purple Eagles scored six runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by Natasha Limbani's two-run double and Lindsay Mayo's RBI single, to take an 11-2 lead before the Retrievers mounted a comeback.
 
Mayo led Niagara's 14-hit attack with three hits, while Limbani, Brianna Delaney, Hailey Cenname, Sophia Marrero and Kaylee Haines each contributed two hits. Sage Jackson (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs over 5.1 innings.
 
Game 2: UMBC 7, Niagara 6
 The Purple Eagles (1-1) jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead, powered by Selah Moyer's two-run homer, but couldn't hold on as UMBC scored four runs in the third inning to take the lead for good.
 
Shayna Myshrall tripled and drove in a run for Niagara, while Hailey Cenname added an RBI single. Jenna Martin allowed five runs in two innings before giving way to Sage Jackson (1-1), who took the loss. UMBC's Haley Luginbill hit two home runs and drove in four runs to pace the Retrievers' offense.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara moves to 10-15 all-time against UMBC following Saturday's split.
• The win in the opener is Jackson's first career win. The senior also matched her career-high with four strikeouts in game one.
• Mayo, Limbani, and Cenname each recorded three hits in the doubleheader.
• Limbani and Delaney each recorded two doubles on the day.
• Moyer connected on her third career home run in game two.
• Niagara went 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts.
 
Up Next
Niagara will take on George Mason on Sunday, Feb. 23, a doubleheader beginning at noon in Fairfax, Va.