Ithaca, N.Y. - Niagara dropped two games to Cornell in game one they fell 10-9 then 11-4 in game two at the Niemand-Robison Field in Ithaca, N.Y.
Game One
Cornell got on the board to tie the game in the first as Lauren Holt had a two-run shot to knot the game at two.
The Big Red recorded their first lead of the contest as Hailey Pirkey singled to left field to drive Ella Harrod to score to give Cornell the lead 3-2.
Donnalea Barnett answered right back with a three-run shot as she homered to center field to give the Purple and White a 5-3 lead.
Cornell would not go away as the second Holt singled to drive to Big Red baserunners home to knot the game up at five.
Emma Harshberger would take the lead back for Cornell as she singled to third to drive Holt around to score. Sophia Hernandez would then homer to right field to add two more runs for the Big Red to move the contest to 8-5.
With the bases loaded in the third CJ Haney was hit by a pitch to move
Abigail Ras to score to cut into the lead 8-6. Haney along with
Adriana Hills would then come around and score from an error by the Cornell catcher to tie the contest at eight.
Haney would score again this time off the bat of Barnett as she doubled to left center to take back the lead from the Big Red 9-8.
Cornell would yet again take the lead back from the Purple Eagles in the fifth as Samantha Albert singled to center to bring home Susanna Pate, followed by a Tarisa Frans single to move Hailey Pirkey home and eventually take the game 10-9.
Abbey Steen recorded the start in the circle for the Purple and White as she pitched 1.1 innings as she faced 13 batters and punched out one. Gianna Graber came in for relief as she pitched the final 4.2 innings as she saw 20 batters as she struck out two.
Game Two
To start game two Niagara got on the board first in the top of the first inning as Barnett scored off a passed ball to put the Purple Eagles up 1-0. Phelan would then also score from a wild pitch to put Niagara up 2-0.
The Purple and White extended their lead in the third as Cenname reached on a fielder's choice to allow Barnett to score. Then Marrero would come home off the bat of Gibbons double to center field to put the Purple Eagles up 4-0.
Cornell would claw back in the game as Holt doubled to right field to bring Frans, Albert, and Harrod to score to move the game to 4-3 in favor of Niagara.
Holt would then steal home to tie the contest at four. Hernandez would hit a two-run homerun to give the Big Red their first lead in game two 6-4. To round out the third inning, Pate grounded out with a sacrifice bunt to bring Pirkey to score unearned.
The Big Red would add two more runs in the fourth to move the game to 9-4. Then in the fifth and sixth innings Cornell recorded one run in each innings to become victorious 11-4.
Ryan Hatty started game two as she pitched 2.1 innings as she faced 13 batters,
Jenna Martin would then come into the contest to pitch the final 3.2 innings as she faced 20 batters.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara goes to 1-15 all-time against Cornell
• Barnett went 6-8 in the doubleheader, Barnett also recorded four hits in game one which is a tie for the most in a single game this season
• Niagara was walked a total of eight times in game one which is a season high
• Haney recorded three runs scored in game one which is a game high for the team this season
• Barnett recorded her first four hit game of her career in game one of the doubleheader
• Gibbons extended her reached base streak to five games
• Hills also extended her reached base streak to four games which is her longest of the season
Up Next
Niagara returns to action on Saturday, April 18th as they host Saint Peter's for a doubleheader that is slated to start at 12 p.m.
