Published: May 10, 2008 11:08 pm            

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: NU bounced from MAACs

STRATFORD, Conn. — In the end, the tears told the story.

The Niagara University softball team saw its season conclude in horrible fashion, as it was hammered, 6-0, by Marist and was eliminated from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday.

The second-seeded Purple Eagles were badly out-classed for the second game in a row. In its two tourney games, Niagara scored no runs, managed only seven hits and committed seven errors.

They finished the season 27-21.

“We played very poorly, I am surprised,” Niagara coach Al Dirschberger said. “We had a good practice yesterday, and they seemed loose. We did not execute. None of our phases showed up … our hitting, our fielding … none of it. We usually average seven to 10 hits a game. And to get seven hits in two games … that hasn’t happened all year.

“Same thing with the errors. To put up five errors in a game. ... We don’t put up five errors in a weekend.”

Offensively, the Purple Eagles generated next to nothing against Marist starter Megan Rigos, who befuddled Niagara batters all afternoon. In fact, no Niagara baserunner got past first base.

“It feels great,” said Rigos, who allowed only four hits while striking out 10 and only walking one. “I had my speed today, and threw a wide variety of pitches. I tried to keep the ball on the ground, and let my defense take care of it.”

For the second straight game, the Purple Eagles were not sharp in the batters box.

“She (Rigos) did a nice job, but we had very poor at bats,” Dirschberger said. “We were not attacking the zone properly. We were chasing. We just were not focused and not mentally into it.”

After McCallion Campbell smacked an RBI-single and Alanna Woody hit a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the second to give the Red Foxes a 2-0 lead, Niagara suffered a nightmarish third inning which helped doomed them.

First, Marist’s Melissa Giordano reached third while Pamela de la Llave reached second due to three consecutive Niagara errors. Jessica Green then stepped up and smashed a sharp 2-run double to center which scored both runners and gave the Red Foxes a 4-0 advantage.

“That was the start of it, and we never bounced back,” Dirschberger said. “We allowed our mistakes to turn into runs for them. Then when we had opportunities to bring in runs, we didn’t.”

Indeed, the combination of Niagara blunders and Marist clutch hitting was one difference in the outcome.

“We capitalized on their errors, and combined with our hits, we really did a good job,” Rigos said.

Niagara starter Brooke Viola was yanked after de la Llave’s RBI single in the fourth — which gave the Red Foxes a 5-0 lead — and was replaced by Tiffany McCrory. Viola only lasted 3 1/3 innings while surrendering six runs on just six hits. She struck out two and walked one.

After the game, Dirschberger gathered his club together in an emotional scene where many tears flowed because the season and in some cases careers were over.

“It was a fun season to be part of as a player,” Markle said of what was a good season — until it counted the most. “I am proud of the seniors. Unfortunately, we could not give them what they deserved … a championship.”

        

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