NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. (April 30, 2022) - The Saint Peter's University softball team got a complete game effort in the circle and clutch RBI singles from Cara McNulty, Samantha Miller and Dakota Pitts to earn a 3-1 win over Niagara University, defeating the Purple Eagles for the first time since 2014, before dropping game two 3-2 on a walk-off Saturday at Niagara Softball Field.
Scores: Saint Peter's 3, Niagara 1 | Niagara 3, Saint Peter's 2
Records: Saint Peter's (18-27, 4-8 MAAC) | Niagara (13-21, 7-7 MAAC)
Pitchers (G1): W - Nicole Antuna (4-2) L - Riley Crum (5-8)
Pitchers (G2): W - Julia Thompson (4-2) L - Christina Colon (2-5)
Top Performers
- McNulty, Pitts and Miller all had identical lines in game one as they each finished the game 2 for 3 with an RBI.
- Antuna was phenomenal in the circle as she allowed just one run on two hits across 7.0 innings for the Peacocks.
- In addition to her two hits in game one, Miller also had a multi-hit effort in game two to finish the doubleheader 4 for 5 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
- Aubrey Ketcham had a hit in both games going 2 for 6 with two runs scored and an RBI on the day.
- Kourtney Ketcham used her speed to her advantage in game two with a bunt single and a run scored.
How it Happened (Game One)
- The Peacocks were able to put a run on the board early on as A. Ketcham led things off with a walk, moved to second on a groundout and came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of McNulty.
- The Purple Eagles answered with a run of their own on a single and a double in the bottom of the third, but those were the only two hits allowed in the contest by Antuna.
- With the score tied at 1-1 in the fourth, Sophie Wilson laced a one-out double to left to put a runner in scoring position.
- After Marissa Morales came on to pinch run and moved to third on a wild pitch, Samantha Miller came to the plate with two outs and delivered a clutch RBI single down the left field line to put SPU back on top.
- The Peacocks tacked on an insurance run in the fifth when A. Ketcham led the inning off with a single, stole second and came around to touch home on an RBI single off the bat of Dakota Pitts.
- The two-run cushion would be more than enough for Antuna who sat down the final 11 batters she faced to earn the win in the circle.
How It Happened (Game Two)
- It was Niagara who took the early lead in game two as they used a one-out single and a double in the bottom of the first to bring home the first run of the contest.
- The score remained 1-0 until the top of the third when Miller led the inning off with a double and was followed by a single from Kourtney Ketcham to put runners on the corners with no outs.
- One batter later, A. Ketcham brought home a run on a squeeze play with a perfectly placed bunt to tie the contest at one.
- After Smith moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt, McNulty drove home another run with a sacrifice fly to put SPU on top 2-1.
- The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth when the Purple Eagles got a leadoff single and were able to bring her home with a two-out knock to tie things up once again at 2-2.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Niagara was able to get a one-out single and a ground out to put a runner in scoring position with two outs.
- The next batter stepped to the plate and hit a hard ground ball to second base that McNulty was unable to handle as it popped out of her glove and allowed the winning run to come across to score.
Inside the NumbersÂ
- It was the first win for the Peacocks over the Purple Eagles since April 12, 2014 when they swept both ends of the doubleheader in Jersey City.
- Additionally, the victory was the first win for SPU at Niagara since grabbing an 8-3 win on April 21, 2007.
- Outside of the third inning in game one, Antuna did not allow a hit and faced just one batter over the minimum with a single walk in the fourth.
- The trio of Miller, Pitts and A. Ketcham are all now hitting over .380 in MAAC play this season led by a fantastic .409 average from Miller.
- After her strong effort in the doubleheader, McNulty is now batting .355 with 29 RBI to rank inside the top-10 in the conference in both categories.
- After getting in the win column, Antuna now joins Sydney Senerchia and Kasidy Slusser with at least four wins. It is the first time since at least 2007 three different players have registered at least four wins.
Next Up
- The Peacocks return to action Sunday when they head to Buffalo, N.Y., to take on Canisius University in a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.
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