The Niagara University women’s softball team tallied their 14th and 15th of the season, shutting out Rider in both games 10-0, 6-0, respectively. The pair of wins boosted Niagara’s conference record to .500 as they now are 6-6 in the MAAC.
The Purple Eagles came out tenacious in the first two innings, where they would score all ten runs. The tone would be set when Sarah March hit a homer in the first inning, leading the way for Niagara to begin their onslaught. Jerri Ann Orfano and Bridget Hogan would feed off of March’s energy, hitting two doubles of their own. Maria Gabriele and Taylor Moody would bring in two runs of their own as they both hit singles. The Purple Eagles ended the first inning with five runs.
The energy of the second inning mirrored the first for Niagara, as they brought in another five runs expanding the lead to 10. Kendall Watkins hit her fifth home run of the season, bringing in two RBIs. Hogan, Moody, Rachel Funk and Chanelle Ward were among those to score in the second inning.
Sierra Bertrand took the start in game one, holding Rider without a hit in the third and fourth innings. Rider had one more chance in the fifth with bases loaded against Bertrand’s relief, Emily Johnston. Johnston struck out the final two batters swinging to seal the Niagara shutout.
In the second game, pitcher Jennifer Szilagyi helped her own cause hitting a double down the left field line scoring on the next play with a Trifoso single up the middle. An offensive upturn caused a Purple Eagle lead of 6-0 at the end of the sixth inning with Rider unable to muster a hit in the last two innings of the game securing the shutout win for Szilagyi.
The Purple Eagles continue their season at home Wednesday with a doubeheader against the University of Akron.
Photo courtesy of PurpleEagles.com
Niagara Wire 