NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
CLEVELAND, O.H. — The Purple Eagles softball team split a doubleheader with Cleveland State on Thursday, falling to the Vikings in game one, 3-2, before bouncing back with a 6-inning shutout victory, 9-0, in game two.
Game 1: Cleveland State 3, Niagara 2
- Niagara (7-18) got on the board in the top of the first inning. Heather Haberman doubled down the left field line, scoring Kendall Watkins to give NU a 1-0 lead over the Vikings (10-17).
- Cleveland State tied things up, 1-1, in the bottom of the second inning.
- Watkins hit a solo homerun to left center in the top of the third to put the Purple Eagles back in the lead, 2-1.
- The Vikings held NU scoreless for the remainder of the game and scored two runs in the fifth inning to earn the 3-2 victory.
- Taylor Moody led Niagara with two hits.
- Haberman and Watkins each recorded one RBI.
- Sierra Bertrand (3-6) threw a complete game in the circle, striking out six batters and allowing only one earned run in 6.0 innings pitched.
Game 2: Niagara 9, Cleveland State 0 (6 innings)
- Niagara took a quick lead in game two and never looked back. In the top of the second, Moody singled to short, scoring Margaret Vesneske. Kelsey Harrigan then hit a three RBI double to give the Purple Eagles a 4-0 lead.
- In the top of the fifth, Moody grounded out to short, sending Bella Garone home. With bases loaded, Harrigan reached base on a fielder’s choice and Vesneske scored to extend NU’s lead, 6-0.
- In the top of the sixth inning, with two runners on base, Jennifer Timm homered to center field, icing Niagara’s 9-0 win.
- Harrigan, Watkins, Timm and Moody each had a team-best two hits.
- Harrigan had a career-high four RBIs.
- Timm recorded three RBIs and Moody had two RBIs.
- Karsen Cotton (3-6) earned the win in the circle. She fanned three in 2.0 innings pitched.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles begin MAAC play on Saturday, March 31 with a doubleheader at Siena. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
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