KISSIMMEE, Fla. – In a Wednesday afternoon matchup, the Purple Eagles softball team dropped a 5-1 decision to the Providence Friars. Niagara picked up an RBI single from Maria Gabriele in the sixth inning, but a four-run effort by Providence in the second inning was the difference in the game. Sierra Bertrand fell to 2-1 on the season, allowing four runs on three hits and five walks. Jennifer Szilagyi pitched four innings in relief and gave up one run on five hits.
Following a scoreless first inning, Providence went up 4-0 in the top of the second. Four walks in the first five batters gave the Friars their first run of the inning, Paige Mulry hit an RBI single, and Nicole Lundstrom added a two-run single. Jennifer Szilagyi replaced starting Niagara pitcher Sierra Bertrand in the top of the fourth inning, and gave up one hit to Providence but kept the Purple Eagles at a four-run deficit. Jerri Ann Orfano, Niagara’s leader in batting average, picked up a fourth-inning single but Niagara was unable to bring pinch runner Bailey Stayner in for a run.
In the bottom of the sixth, Brianna Clark pinch hit for Sarah March and led off the inning with a single. After two Niagara strikeouts, Orfano reached first on a Providence fielding error and Kendall Watkins walked to load the bases. A single by Gabriele brought Clark home to make it 4-1. Providence added one more run in the top of the seventh inning. With runners on second and third, Brittney Veler flied out to left field, but Lundstrom reached home from third on the sacrifice play to reestablish the four-run lead for the Friars. In the bottom of the seventh, Niagara was limited to a single from Sarah Trifoso as Providence sealed the final score at 5-1.
Niagara prepares for a doubleheader against Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure, starting at 11 a.m. Thursday. The Purple Eagles wrap up this week’s seven-game road trip on Sunday, March 12 with a doubleheader against the Bucknell Bison.
