POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The Canisius softball team overcame a 4-1 deficit with a four-run fourth and senior Mallory Aldred earned her second win in as many days as the Golden Griffins defeated Niagara 6-4 Friday morning in the winner's bracket round of the 2009 MAAC Softball Championship at Garltand Park on the campus of Marist College. The win allows Canisius (25-22) to advance to the championship round of the four-team double-elimination tournament, while the Purple Eagles will return to action later on Friday in the loser's bracket final.
Senior Cameron Norton went 4-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored an RBI in the win for Canisius, while junior Michelle Fridey went 2-for-4 for the Griffs, who are appearing in their 15th MAAC Softball championship game in 19 years.
Aldred improved to 18-6 on the season after she gave up four runs on six hits, with four of those hits coming in the game's first inning.
Canisius trailed 4-1 in the fourth before Norton cut the margin in half with a solo homer over the fence in straight-away center field. The homer was her second of the MAAC Tournament and her fourth of the season. Fridey followed that with a base hit to center. With two runners on and two outs, Lauren Hope beat out an infield single to load the bases. Senior Rachelle Barrientos drew a two-out walk to drive in a run and make the score 4-3. Canisius took the lead for good at 5-4 moments later when two runs scored on a Niagara error that allowed Anglea Turrey and Hope to score. Turrey was credited with a sacrifice fly in the home half of the fifth to give Canisius a 6-4 lead.
Niagara came out and scored four runs in the top half of the first inning on four hits off Aldred. Jenna Baker put the Purple Eagles on the board first with a bases-loaded single and Heather Lorhman follwed with an RBI-groundout. Then with two outs, Melissa Markle drove in two runs with a single to center.
Aldred settled after the first inning and ended up facing just 21 batters over the final six frames of the game, where she allowed two hits, both coming off the bat of Kristin Kill. She fanned four and issued four walks in the win. Julie DiMatteo took the loss in the circle for Niagara after she allowed two runs on three hits to go with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief.
Canisius will meet the winner of the tournament's loser bracket final Saturday at noon.