Buffalo, NY - Softball dropped two games on Sunday to Sacred Heart with game one 3-0 in favor of the Pioneers and game two 13-4 in six innings at Nan Harvey Field in Buffalo, NY.

Game One

Both sides were held scoreless to go into the fifth inning, but Sacred Heart broke the game open courtesy of Sam Kowalski who singled to left field to drive home Elle Leckrone to take the lead 1-0.

The Pioneers extended their lead in the sixth after Kathryn Hotle filed out to center for a sac fly to allow Kaelyn Freed to score to bring the game to 2-0.

To cap off the scoring in game one Kowalski hit a one run shot in the seventh to end game one 3-0 in favor of Sacred Heart.

Ryan Hatty started game one as she pitched 6.1 innings as she faced two batters as she punched one out. Abbey Steen came in for relief for Niagara as she recorded the final two outs as she saw two batters as she recorded one strikeout.

Game Two

Both sides were deadlocked at zero up until the second inning as the Pioneers erupted for six runs. 

Ella Stoops singled to left field that allowed Nicole Henke to score. Olivia Bibbo doubled to left center to bring Alexa Barbera home. Sam Kowalski doubled to left center to record an RBI double. Katherine Burras reached first on a fielding error from Niagara that allowed Jess Brown to score, to wrap up the scoring for Sacred Heart.

The Purple Eagles would answer back with three runs of their own. Donnalea Barnett kicked things off for the Purple and White as she doubled to left center to bring home Ella Moore. 

Hailey Cenname would double to left field to drive home Carmella Phelan along with Barnett for a two RBI double. 

Sacred Heart would answer back with two more runs in the third as Leckrone reached first on a fielding error to allow Alivia Bibbo to score. Leckrone would also advance to second from a Purple Eagle error to bring Jess Brown to score, to put the game 8-3 in favor of the Pioneers.

Jolyn Gibbons answered back as she singled to right center to bring Phelan around to home to cut into the lead 8-4. 

In the fifth Sacred Heart extended their lead seven as Henke homered with a three run RBI. In the sixth Lecrone doubled through the left side as Brown and Bibbo scored to make the Pioneers victorious 13-4.

Abbey Steen pitched the first 1.2 innings as she faced 14 batters. Jenna Martin came in to pitch the final 4.1 innings as she saw 25 batters as she punched three out.

Niagara Notes
• Niagara goes to 6-8 all-time against Sacred Heart
• In game two in the fourth inning Sophia Marrero recorded her 100th career hit 
• Marrero extends her hitting streak and reached base streak to four games 
• Hatty has pitched 6.1 innings twice this season, the first time she did so was against Marist on March 14
• Cenname recorded her multi RBI game of the season in game two

Up Next
Niagara Softball is back in action on Tuesday March 31 as they head to face Buffalo for a doubleheader with game one slated for 1 p.m.