Niagara University, N.Y. - Niagara Softball earned a doubleheader sweep 6-3, 5-3 against Mercyhurst Monday afternoon at the Niagara Softball Field in Niagara University, N.Y.
Game One
Niagara kicked off the board first in the bottom of the first inning as Donnalea Barnett stole third and on the throw down the Mercyhurst catcher recorded a throwing error to allow Barnett to advance home.
In the bottom of the second,
Abigail Ras scored off the bat of
Layla Weaver, who flied out in a sacrifice effort to put the Purple Eagles up 2-0.
Mercyhurst would then plate their first run of the contests in the third as Shailene Riemedio scored from a Jazlynn Sanders single.
The Purple and White would extend their lead back out to three courtesy of
Sophia Marrero's two-run home run to left field to move the contest to 4-1.
Weaver recorded the Purple Eagles second home run of the contest as she homered to left field.
The Lakers would take part in the home run action as Gabriella DeLuca homered to left field where she recorded two RBIs to cut into Niagara's lead of 5-3.
Ryan Hatty pitched all seven innings in the circle for the Purple Eagles as she faced 29 batters with three strikeouts.
Game Two
Mercyhurst got on the board first in game two at the top of the second from an Avarie Mays one run home run.
The Purple and White would extend their lead in the fifth as Phelan singled, which allowed Barnett and Weaver to score.
Niagara extended their lead out to three as Barnett reached first off, a Lakers fielding errow where Weaver scored unearned.
Mercyhurst plated two more runs in the seventh as Mays grounded out, but Shailene Riemedio scored, DeLuca would then also score off a Jazlynn Sanders single to make the game 5-3 in favor of Niagara.
Jenna Martin pitched six innings in the winning effort as she faced 27 batters with two punchouts,
Abbey Steen pitched the final inning as she faced the final six batters.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improves to 4-6 all-time against Mercyhurst after their doubleheader sweep
• Hatty became the third Purple Eagle pitcher to pitch a full seven innings this season
• Marrero, Barnett, and Ras are all on a five-game reached base streak
• Niagara has recorded two or more home runs in four games this season
• Hills recorded her first triple of the season in game one
• Phelan tied a career best in RBIs in game two as she recorded two
• Weaver recorded her first career home run in game one
Up Next
Softball will travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to take on cross-town rival Canisius on Friday, May 1st for a doubleheader action with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.
