STAFF REPORTS
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Purple Eagles softball team and the George Washington Colonials opened this weekend’s Capital Invitational in thrilling fashion on Friday afternoon with a pair of extra-innings showdowns. The Colonials came out on top 5-4 in eight innings to start the day, coming back with three runs in the bottom of the eighth after Niagara took a 4-2 lead in the top of the inning.
Niagara and George Washington went back to extra innings in the second game of the day, with the Purple Eagles and Colonials knotted at 2-2 midway through the eighth inning.
George Washington 5, Niagara 4 (8 innings)
Brianna Clark opened the first game of the Capital Invitational with a first-inning single, but George Washington held Niagara off the board in the top of the first before taking a 1-0 lead with a double to left center field in the bottom of the inning. After two scoreless innings, Sarah Trifoso was able to tie the game for the Purple Eagles. After Kendall Watkins singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Rachel Funk, Trifoso sent a long single through the right side and scored Watkins for the tying run. George Washington took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, but again Niagara was able to tie the game. With two outs and Sarah March on third, Jerri Ann Orfano picked up the game-tying single, ripping a base hit through the middle of the Colonials’ defense to bring March home.
Niagara held George Washington scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and took a 4-2 lead after the top of the eighth inning. Taylor Moody scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly from Maria Gabriele, and Sarah March sent a double into left field to score Funk, but March was thrown out rounding second on the play to bring the Colonials up to bat. In the bottom of the eighth, George Washington came back with a two-run home run to tie the game. The Colonials then brought the winning run home on a two-out, bases-loaded single to left field. Niagara tied a season-high with 12 hits in the opener at George Washington. Watkins was 3-for-4 to lead the Purple Eagles at the plate, and Sarah March was 2-for-3 with the double.
Niagara opens day two of the Capital Invitational on Saturday, March 18 with a third and final matchup against the Colonials, with first pitch set for 10 a.m. The Purple Eagles then turn their attention to their next opponent, Penn State. The Purple Eagles and Nittany Lions are set to square off Saturday at 12:15 p.m. before a Sunday rematch at 11 a.m. to conclude Niagara’s five-game tournament slate.