NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (4/18/06) – Niagara University took advantage of seven Colgate fielding errors to take both ends of a non-conference softball doubleheader, winning the opener 2-1 and taking the nightcap 3-2.
Colgate (13-18) has dropped three straight games, while Niagara (18-12) snaps a five-game losing streak.
The Raiders got a strong pitching performance in the opener from senior
Kate Howard (Wheaton, IL), who allowing only two hits, two unearned runs, while striking out five and walking two.
Niagara took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs, Shannon Mongalise singled and advanced to second on a fielding error in the outfield. Ashley Bognar walked and another Colgate fielding error loaded the bases. Jamie Constantz drove in both runs with a single to left center field.
Colgate’s only run came in the third inning when
Jessi Bentovoja (El Dorado Hills, CA) led off with a single, and with one out moved to second on
Calla Yee’s (Salinas, CA) sacrifice bunt. Bentovoja scored when
Tiana Tyeskey (Granite Bay, CA) singled to right field where the ball was misplayed allowing Bentovoja to race home.
Colgate managed only five hits against Niagara starter Tiffany McCrory. Tyeskey, Bentovoja,
LaPorscha Albert (Lewisville, TX),
Meg Mylan (Upper Montclair, NJ) and
Brandi Godfrey (Eastman, GA) had one hit apiece.
In the nightcap, the Raiders received another strong pitching effort this time from freshman
Ashley Rowe (Tampa, FL), who gave up three hits, while striking out three and walking four.
Niagara scored its first run in the third inning on a bases loaded walk, and added its second run in the fifth on a fielding error. Colgate scored once in the sixth inning on Tyeskey’s RBI single and tied the game in the seventh with an unearned run.
The Purple Eagles won the contest in the seventh when Heather Lohrman led off with a double, and came home one batter later on a Colgate throwing error.
Tyeskey, Mylan and Yee had Colgate’s three hits.
Colgate will play a four-game Patriot League series against league-leading Lehigh this weekend in Behtlehem, PA.
