STAFF REPORTS
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – After opening the Capital Invitational with a pair of tough extra-innings losses to the host George Washington Colonials on Friday, the Niagara softball team fell to George Washington and Penn State in a two-game slate on the tournament’s second day. The Purple Eagles registered their highest offensive output of the tournament in an 11-6 loss to the Colonials to open the day before falling 13-4 in the first of two games against the Nittany Lions this weekend.
Bridget Hogan led the Purple Eagles at the plate Saturday, batting 5-for-8 with a double and a triple. Jerri Ann Orfano had a home run for Niagara (7-8, 0-0 MAAC), while Maria Gabriele ended the day with a team-high three RBIs.
George Washington 11, Niagara 6
Niagara led off the second day of competition with a 1-0 lead after the top of the first, as Jerri Ann Orfano singled through the middle of the Colonials’ defense to score Sarah March. George Washington came back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a one-out, two-run homer to left center. Each team scored one run in the second inning. Chanelle Ward tied the game for Niagara with an RBI single and two outs on the board in the top of the inning before George Washington came right back and scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. Niagara responded with two runs in the top of the third, with Orfano sending a solo home run down the left field line and Maria Gabriele scoring Bridget Hogan on a sacrifice fly. Another two-run home run by George Washington made it 5-4 in the bottom of the third before a scoreless fourth inning. The Colonials extended their lead to 11-4, racking up five hits, two walks, and two Niagara errors in the fifth and sixth innings while holding the Purple Eagles off the board. In the seventh inning, Niagara’s Jennifer Timm scored pinch runner Bailey Stayner on a groundout play. On the next at-bat, Hogan scored Taylor Moody from third on an RBI single, but Niagara could not close the gap further, falling 11-6 in the third and final game against George Washington. In the circle, Emily Johnston struck out two batters while allowing eight runs (six earned) to the Colonials on nine hits in the loss. Bridget Hogan also pitched two innings, giving up three runs on three hits.
Penn State 13, Niagara 4
Niagara tallied two strikeouts on Penn State early in the top of the first inning, but the Nittany Lions were able to rally with two outs, scoring four runs before Niagara closed the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Maria Gabriele sent a two-run double to left field, making it 4-2 after one inning of play. Penn State scored a leadoff home run in the top of the third to make it 5-2 before a pair of RBI doubles made it 7-2 after four innings of play. Niagara was held off the board heading into the final inning, as the Nittany Lions scored six more runs to amass a 13-2 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Rachel Funk grounded out but scored Brianna Clark on a bases-loaded play with one out, and Sarah Trifoso singled up the middle to make it 13-4, but the Nittany Lions struck out Sarah March to close the game. Sierra Bertrand struck out four batters in four innings in the loss, yielding seven runs (four earned) on eight hits. Jennifer Szilagyi pitched three innings in relief and allowed six hits to Penn State along with six runs (three earned).
Niagara wraps up its five-game slate at the Capital Invitational Sunday morning with an 11 a.m. rematch against the Nittany Lions.
