MERCYHURST (9-29, 8-13 NEC) at NIAGARA (6-31, 5-19 MAAC)
Monday, April 27 – 3/5 p.m.  
Niagara Falls, N.Y.   
TV: ESPN+
 
Mercyhurst softball continues their consecutive streak of games with a doubleheader at Niagara that got moved from Tuesday to tomorrow. This is the first time these two sides have played each other in 36 years. Now, they meet at Niagara for their final non-conference series of the season. 

Both teams could use a use some momentum heading into their last conference series. This doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m. Viewers can find live coverage on ESPN+.
 
Last Few Weeks on the Diamond
Inclement weather spreading across the northeast region has given the Lakers some much needed rest. Just a few weeks ago, they played eight games in nine days. In that span, they went 3-5, picking up three conference wins to aid their playoff push. 
 
On April 15, they had to cancel their reverse doubleheader with Youngstown State due to thunderstorms in Erie. They returned to the diamond this past weekend for their inaugural series at New Haven on April 18. The Chargers won game one, 4-0, and MU won game two, 10-5. The series finale was then pushed to Monday due to weather. New Haven put up eight unanswered runs in an 8-2 win. The Lakers' series at Oakland was postponed from these schedule changes. 
 
Most recently, Mercyhurst walked off Le Moyne in the first game of their series besides dropping the subsequent doubleheader. They now go from five days off to their fourth and fifth game in three consecutive days. 
 
16-Run Riot
The last time Mercyhurst put up 16 runs in a game was in a win vs. UPJ in 2024. Now, they achieved that feat twice in five days vs. the likes of SFU and FDU. In the SFU game, MU beat them 16-5 in game one where they tallied some impressive stat lines. In terms of NEC highs (at the time), the Lakers had 35 total bases (1st), five home runs (2nd), and 16 runs (5th). Individually, Jazlynn Sanders' two home runs were tied for the most in one game and Braylynn Kelly's four hits were second highest. The Red Flash won game two and the Lakers won game three. 
 
Matchup Insights
Mercyhurst is 6-2 vs. Niagara all time. 44 years ago, Shelley Monas was in charge of the Lakers. The team took a trip to home of the Purple Eagles for the very first time on April 30, 1982. In game one, they lost 16-5. Then, in game two, the Lakers claimed a triumphant victory, 12-11. 
 
They met again four years later, in May of 1986 under Rick Burns. Here, the Lakers swept the Purple Eagles, 8-6 and 13-9. The third doubleheader occurred in March of 1989 under the direction of Trevor Warren. Niagara won game one, 1-0, and Mercyhurst won game two, 4-1. 
 
The most recent matchup was also under Warren, except it was 36 years ago in 1990. The Lakers swept them again, this time by scores of 2-0 and 12-1. This upcoming doubleheader marks the first time these two meet since Mercyhurst became Division I and the first time Leanne Baker faces the Purple Eagles in her coaching career. 
 
DeLuca Delivers
Gabby DeLuca has made waves in her rookie season. She is among the best players in the NEC standings right now. In the circle, she holds a 5-5 record, an ERA of 5.53 (tenth in NEC), and an opposing batting average (ninth in NEC). Also in conference play, she is allowing the seventh-fewest hits (83), the fifth-fewest runs (57), and the ninth-fewest earned runs (50). 
 
DeLuca had an incredible performance vs. SFU a few weeks ago. She pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and two earned runs. In the same game, she hit a SAC fly and a three-run home run to secure a 4-2 win for the Lakers. In the same week, she recorded six RBIs in the 16-2 win vs. FDU. Her 33 RBIs lead the team and are currently fourth in the NEC. There are currently just five players in the NEC with an OPS above 1.000, and DeLuca is one of them (1.069). Additionally, her seven homers on the year are fifth in the conference. 
 
Bray K, Few K's
Kelly has been one of the most consistent hitters for Mercyhurst. In 84 at bats, the Whittaker, Michigan native has 38 total bases, 31 hits, 16 runs, 15 RBIs, a batting average of .369, an OPS of .882, and a slugging percentage of .452. She is 11 for 13 on stolen base attempts. Notably, Kelly hit a three-run blast in an 8-6 win at CCSU. This was the first home run of her career. Her batting average is tied for first on the team and tied for fifth in the entire NEC.  

Prime Performers
So far, Sanders (2x), DeLuca (4x), and Kasten (2x) have earned NEC weekly awards.  
 
DeLuca had a stellar weekend in S.C that began her collegiate career in style. In this tournament, the Erie native had a .333 batting average, two runs, two RBIs, three hits, and a two-run moon shot in just nine at bats. She then was named the NEC Rookie of the Week and a Prime Performer for her tremendous week vs. SFU and FDU. Most recently, she earned her third Prime Performer award for recording eight RBIs, six hits, four doubles, two runs, and two home runs in 13 at bats. In one of those games, she recorded six RBIs in a 10-5 win vs. New Haven. 
 
Sanders earned her first Prime Performer award from the Hawaii tournament. Sanders had five hits, five RBIs, and she went yard in one of the games vs. Hawaii. Her second award came after the Stonehill series, where she tallied four hits and four RBIs. This included a go-ahead three-run home run in a 5-3 win in game one. 
 
Kasten, in four games and 13 at-bats vs. RMU, had nine hits, two RBIs, two stolen bases, one double, one run, total batting average of .377. She also recorded a fielding percentage of 1.000 and made seven catches from center field. Her best game of this four-game series was in game two, where she went four-for-four. She then had a big week from the plate vs. SFU and FDU. In 24 at bats, Kasten recorded 10 hits, nine runs, and four RBIs. 
 
Niagara Report Card

• The Purple Eagles are 6-31 on the season and 5-19 in conference play. They currently sit in 12th in the MAAC. 
• They began the season with losses vs. Binghamton, Buffalo, and Colgate. 
• They then opened conference play at Marist, who swept them. UMES, Quinnipiac, Rider, Sacred Heart, Buffalo, and Mount St. Mary's, all swept them before they picked up their first win of the season in their 23rd game. Here, they beat the Horizon League leaders, Youngstown State, 10-2 in five innings. 
• Niagara notably picked up a series swept vs. Saint Peter's in MAAC play. 
• Most recently, the Purple Eagles picked up a series win over Manhattan, featuring 14-10 and 4-3 winning scorelines. 
• Donnalea Barnett leads the team with a .386 batting average and 44 hits. She is also a perfect eight-for-eight on stolen base attempts.
• Hailey Cenname has the most RBIs (25).  
• In the circle, Ryan Hatty leads the team with a 5.82 ERA and 46 earned runs in 55.1 innings pitched.