NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Niagara softball team kept the Golden Griffins scoreless for 14 innings to sweep their doubleheader against Canisius in convincing fashion.
Game One: Niagara 3, Canisius 0
- Kelsey Harrigan pounced on an 0-1 pitch and planted a leadoff home run in right-center field to give the Purple Eagles a quick 1-0 lead.
- In the top of the second, Canisius got two aboard with a double and a hit-by-pitch, but Sierra Bertrand got out of it by the final batter to fly out to center.
- Canisius started the third with a leadoff single to left, but a 5-4-3 double play by Niagara cleared the bases and neutralized the offensive chance.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Rachel Funk reached second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Haberman got her to third with a single, and Taylor Moody brought her home and doubled the lead by landing a blooper in front of the center fielder. Haberman and Moody were moved to third and second, respectively, after Sarah Trifoso grounded out on the first base line. Harrigan tallied her second RBI of the game when she lifted a single into shallow right field, allowing Haberman to push the score to 3-0 while Moody made her way to third.
- After two quick outs to start off the seventh, the Griffs got two runners aboard via walks. A single through short put three aboard, but the lead runner got caught in a rundown on the third base line to preserve the shutout and end the game.
- From the plate, Harrigan and Haberman each racked up two hits, with Harrigan accounting for two of the team’s three RBI.
- Bertrand went the distance for Niagara, collecting five strikeouts and allowing just two walks in 7.0 innings of scoreless ball.
Game Two: Niagara 4, Canisius 0
- After a quiet two and a half innings, Sarah Trifoso was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third to get aboard. A wild pitch moved her to second, and she made it home on a Kendall Watkins double to put the Purple Eagles ahead 1-0.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Taylor Moody got to second via an error in center field, then came home after Trifoso singled into shallow center. Trifoso then took second on a wild pitch, stole third, then scored to make it 3-0 when Kelsey Harrigan hit a looping double down the left field line. Harrigan came across and bumped the score to 4-0 after a wild pitch advanced her to third and Watkins singled through the left side.
- Watkins led the way from the box, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Trifoso and Harrigan each added one hit and one RBI each.
- In the circle, Jennifer Szilagyi went 5.2 innings, allowing four walks, two hits and picking up four strikeouts. Emily Johnston tied the program single-season record with her fourth save of the season.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles welcome MAAC opponents Rider and Monmouth for doubleheaders on April 28 and April 29, respectively. First pitch against the Broncs will be at noon on Saturday, while Sunday gets underway at 11 a.m. versus the Hawks.
