Niagara Defeats Manhattan, 8-1 to Move Into Championship Round
Niagara Media Relations
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. ? Niagara’s seven-run fifth inning propelled the Purple Eagles to an 8-1 victory over the Manhattan Jaspers in a 2009 MAAC Softball Championship elimination game on Saturday afternoon. Niagara (29-18) now advances to face third-seeded Canisius in the championship round.
The game was suspended due to darkness on Friday night with the score tied at 1-1 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The conclusion of this elimination game resumed at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The game headed into the fifth still deadlocked at 1-1. Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine) put Niagara ahead 2-1 and started Niagara’s huge inning with a solo homer to right field. Maggie McDonald (Cicero, N.Y.) followed with a single and Manhattan’s Melissa Donnelly walked the next three batters to allow Niagara to increase its lead to 3-1. Jen Hare (Tonawanda, N.Y.) followed with a bases clearing triple and Kristin Sito (Elyria, Ohio) added two more runs on a double to build the Purple Eagles lead to 8-1 after five innings.
Michelle Krier (Kenmore, N.Y.) shut down the Jaspers for her tenth win of the season. She allowed on two base runners in the final three innings and struck out five in the complete-game win.
First pitch for Game 6 is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. The game can be seen live on www.maacsports.com.