The Purple Eagles softball team resumes spring games in Florida on Wednesday with a 1:30 p.m. matchup against the Providence Friars. After that, the 4-2 Purple Eagles will wrap up the week with a pair of doubleheaders against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies on Thursday and the Bucknell Bison on Sunday.
Niagara began its seven-game road trip with a 2-1 win over South Dakota State, its second-straight win over the Jackrabbits. The Purple Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, as pinch runner Bailey Stayner advanced home on a bases-loaded passed ball. With runners on first and third in the top of the fifth, Niagara doubled its lead as Bridget Hogan reached on a fielder’s choice to second base and Alexandra Moore scored from third. Sierra Bertrand pitched 5.2 innings for the win and struck out seven batters while giving up just one run and three hits. Jennifer Szilagyi picked up the save to help the Purple Eagles to the 2-1 win. In the second matchup of the day, Niagara fell behind 2-0 to Western Michigan after a scoreless first inning. The Broncos scored two runs off of five baserunners on a pair of hits, two walks, and one batter hit by a pitch. Niagara was held off the board until the top of the fifth inning, when the Purple Eagles were able to cut the deficit to 3-1. Niagara loaded the bases as Kendall Watkins walked, Maria Gabriele singled to left field, and Taylor Moody reached on an error. Watkins was the only runner to score as Western Michigan got the next two Niagara batters out. Emily Johnston closed the game to pitch for Niagara and gave up one run on one hit while striking out two batters. The Purple Eagles were held without a hit the rest of the way, as Western Michigan tacked on one more run with an RBI triple in the sixth inning for the 4-1 win.
Niagara Purple Eagles (4-2)
Sophomore Jerri Ann Orfano leads the Purple Eagles with a .571 batting average, going 8-for-14 from the plate through six games. She was a perfect 3-for-3 with three singles in Niagara’s 2-1 win over South Dakota State. Orfano is also second in the MAAC in doubles per game, picking up three in six games. Sarah March (0.33 doubles per game) ranks 11th in the conference. Defensively, Niagara leads the MAAC with an opposing batting average of .236. Sierra Bertrand is tops in the conference allowing just 3.59 hits per seven innings and ranks fourth with 7.7 strikeouts per seven innings. Bertrand is 2-0 and leads Niagara with an ERA of 2.08. Fellow sophomore Jennifer Szilagyi is 2-1 in the circle with a 2.28 ERA. Szilagyi has one save this season and earned her first career win with a complete game shutout of Robert Morris on Feb. 11.
Providence Friars (3-9)
Providence has started off the 2017 season with wins over George Washington, Bethune Cookman, and Florida Gulf Coast. Nicole Lindstrom leads the Friars with a .417 batting average (15-for-36) in 12 games played. Lindstrom is tied for the team lead with four doubles and seven RBIs and also leads Providence with three home runs and 10 runs scored. Providence is also led at the plate by Emma Lee (.386 batting average, four doubles, six RBIs, nine runs scored) and Brittney Veler (.263, two RBIs, five runs scored). In the circle, Christina Ramirez leads the team at 3-4 with a 3.25 ERA, one shutout, and 26 strikeouts.
St. Bonaventure Bonnies (3-7)
Niagara plays the first two of four games this season against the Bonnies on Thursday, as the two teams will also face off in a doubleheader in Olean on April 12. St. Bonaventure has picked up wins over Canisius, Western Michigan, and Fort Wayne this season. Desiree Gonzalez is batting .357 to lead the Bonnies, followed by Hailey Blencowe (.321) and Kiera Lorenzo (.286). In the circle, Josie Borysevicz is 2-2 with a 3.35 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. Kristen Hickling is 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA and eight strikeouts.
Bucknell Bison (9-3)
Bucknell has started the 2017 campaign with a strong performance with nine wins in 12 games. The Bison played against MAAC opponents Quinnipiac and Monmouth last weekend at the Colonial Classic Tournament, earning a 15-11 win over Quinnipiac while losing 8-6 to Monmouth. The Bison have four batters averaging over .400 at the plate in Marisa Alemany (.429), Lauren Hadley (.424), Paulina Gutkin (.421) and Carolyn Wan (.412). Meghan Kovac leads Bucknell with three home runs and 19 RBIs. The Bison are led in the circle by Raeanne Geffert (4-2, 3.53 ERA, 35 strikeouts) and Lara Bean (5-1, 3.78, 13 strikeouts).
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