Four home runs would help Canisius earn a split with Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara. The Purple Eagles would take the first game 7-6 while the Golden Griffins would rally back to win the nightcap 7-6 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference softball action Tuesday at the Niagara Softball Field.

The Golden Griffins moved to 12-13 overall on the season and 7-3 in league play while the Purple Eagles moved to 12-15 and 4-4 in conference play.

GAME ONE RECAP
Niagara took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a single from Sophia Marrero before adding another run in the bottom of the second with a solo home run from Hailey Cenname.

Canisius answered back in the top of the third, plating five runs on four hits and an error to take a 5-2 lead. Senior Gianna Fazzolari plated the first three runs of the frame on a home run to left center, followed up by freshman Ella Johel scoring on a wild pitch and senior Megan Giese hitting a sacrifice fly to bring home junior Emily Ilano.

The Griffs tacked on another run in the top of the fourth when junior Rosie Gomez singled to left field to score sophomore Gabi Farris. 

Niagara cut the deficit to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth with Cenname's second solo shot of the game and Hannah Mingle and Maggie Kellner both scoring on errors. The Purple Eagles would then tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when Delaney reached on an error, scoring Lindsey Mayo. Sophia Marrero would then single to right center to score Delaney and walk off the game.

Giese got the start in the circle and took the loss moving her record to 10-7 on the season, pitching 6.1 innings allowing seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks adding five strikeouts.

The Golden Griffins combined for 10 hits led by Emily Ilano and Farris with two a piece. McGee-Ross, Fazzolari, Giese, Gomez, Morgan Cook and Hanna Hagerman would all also record a hit. 

GAME TWO RECAP
Canisius got off to a hot start in the top of the first with a leadoff home run from McGee-Ross. The Griffs would add three runs in the top of the first with Fazzolari, Gomez, and Cook all bringing home runs.

Niagara would get one run back in the bottom of the third on a double from Delaney that would score Sam Hare.

The Golden Griffins would extend their lead in the top of the fourth with a double from Dani Ross that plated Johel. Followed up by a two run fifth inning that saw both Gomez and Ilano hit home runs to left center and center field respectively.

Hare would homer in the bottom of the fifth to try and start a rally that continued into the sixth inning when the Purple Eagles would make it a one run game with Kellner and Mayo both bringing home runs, but Giese would come in to pitch the final 1.1 innings to earn the save allowing no hits and adding a strikeout.

Junior Kate Wiggins earned the victory getting the start throwing 5.2 innings allowing six runs on 11 hits and tacking on two strikeouts.

Canisius would once again record double digit hits with McGee-Ross, Fazzolari, Gomez and Cook all hitting two with Ilano and Ross recording the other two.

GAME NOTES
• Head coach Kim Griffin reached the 200-win plateau for her career with the victory in game two.
• Canisius is now 101-29-1 all-time against Niagara, and having won four of the last five contests against the Purple Eagles.
• Sophomore Natalie Quonce made her first start of the season in game one.
• Fazzolari extended her home run streak to six straight games in game one, increasing her season total to eight in the process.
• Ilano extended her on base streak to 14 straight games with a combined three hits on the day.
• Gomez played in her 100th career game in game two of the doubleheader, becoming the fifth player on the team to do so.
• Giese picked up her ninth career save in the nightcap as she is now one save away from being tied for second all-time in school history.

UP NEXT
Canisius wraps up the midweek MAAC series against rival Niagara on Wednesday in Lewiston, N.Y. with first pitch being at 2 p.m.

For complete coverage of Canisius softball, please follow @GriffsSoftball on Instagram and X.