MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — The Niagara softball team suffered a sweep at the hands of LIU on Monday at ROC Park, dropping a narrow 6-5 decision in the opener before falling 10-9 in a back-and-forth nightcap.
Game 1: LIU 6, Niagara 5
Niagara (2-7) held a 5-4 lead entering the sixth inning but couldn't hold off the Sharks.
Hailey Cenname led the Purple Eagles with three hits including a triple, while driving in a run.
The Purple Eagles took a 4-3 lead with a three-run fifth inning, including RBI contributions from
Natasha Limbani and
Lindsay Mayo. LIU's Alyssa Polemeni proved to be the difference maker, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, including a two-run single in the sixth that put the Sharks ahead.
Aubrey Tamayo (0-3) took the loss for Niagara after allowing three runs in 1.2 innings of relief. Gigi Clavel earned the win for LIU, allowing just one run over 2.2 innings of relief work.
Game 2: LIU 10, Niagara 9
In the second game, Niagara jumped to an early 9-2 lead after three innings, powered by
Selah Moyer's three-run homer in the first inning and
Brianna Delaney's two-run double in the third. Delaney finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
The Purple Eagles couldn't maintain their advantage as LIU mounted a stunning comeback, scoring eight runs in the sixth inning to take a 10-9 lead. The damage came against
Jenna Martin and
Abbey Steen (0-2), who took the loss.
Devon Medina sparked LIU's rally with a two-run double in the sixth, while Sophia Mariottini (2-5) earned the win after holding Niagara to two runs over the final five innings of relief.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara moves to 0-6 all-time against LIU.
• The Purple Eagles set a season-high with nine RBI in game two.
• Cenname extended her hit streak to five games with a season-best three hits in game one and one in game two.
• Delaney and Moyer recorded season-highs with three RBI apiece in game two.
Up Next
Niagara will return to action on March 19 with a doubleheader against Syracuse at Skytop Softball Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y.
