RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan softball returns to Gaelic Park for a pair of MAAC doubleheaders against Niagara and Canisius this weekend.
The Jaspers welcome the Purple Eagles at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the Golden Griffins on Sunday at 11 a.m. Sunday is the Jaspers' Cancer Awareness game, with a ceremonial first pitch.
Manhattan lost both halves of the doubleheader to Mount St. Mary's on Monday in its last action. The Jaspers dropped game one, 3-1, and game two, 8-7. In game two, the Jaspers scored five in the sixth to make it a one-run game. Manhattan got the go-ahead runner on base in the seventh but could not push it across.
Niagara (4-25, 0-8 MAAC) is coming off a doubleheader sweep of St. Bonaventure on Wednesday. The Purple Eagles took game one 5-2 before winning game two 1-0. Lindsay Mayo leads Niagara in average (.299), slugging percentage (.442), runs scored (15), doubles (6), triples (1), home runs (1), total bases (30), walks (7), and stolen bases (4). Maddie Hickingbottom has 13 appearances for Niagara. The senior has struck out 99 over 89.1 innings and owns a 2.98 ERA.
Canisius (19-13-1, 8-2) will face Saint Peter's on Saturday before visiting Gaelic Park on Sunday. The Golden Griffins have won four straight with doubleheader sweeps of Fairfield and Iona last weekend. Saige Alfaro leads Canisius with a .398 average and also leads the team in hits (40), doubles (8), total bases (51), and hit-by-pitches (4). Megan Giese has logged over 100 innings in the circle for Canisius and owns a 2.77 ERA with a 10-6 record. Alexis Churchill sports a 2.36 ERA over 56.1 innings.
Lauren Rende surpassed 100 career hits last week. The shortstop now has 108 hits in her career in Riverdale. Rende has hit safely in four straight games and nine of the previous 11. Rende had three RBI in game two at Mount St. Mary's. It was the sixth time a Jasper had at least three RBI in a game this season.
Marika Deemer had two hits in game two against Mount St. Mary's. It was the senior's eighth game of multiple hits, which leads the team.
Makayla Veneziale is second in the MAAC in strikeouts per seven innings at 8.1. The first-year Jasper is inside the top 65 nationally.
For the latest on the Manhattan College softball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter and Instagram @JaspersSoftball.
