Thunderwolves drop doubleheader at Corning CC Saturday

SUNY Niagara lost both of its contests at Corning Community College in NJCAA Region III action Saturday. The Red Barons won the first contest in five innings, 15-2, and the second in seven innings, 8-5.

The losses came after the Thunderwolves won five of their first six games in regional play this season, including a sweep against SUNY Adirondack April 4. The 5-1 stretch helped SUNY Niagara earn a fourth-place ranking in the NJCAA Region III Softball Coaches Poll, which was released on April 10, and its first appearance this season.  

SUNY Niagara is now 6-11 overall and 5-3 in NJCAA Region III action. The Thunderwolves have won five of their last eight contests since taking both games against Tompkins Cortland Community College March 24 in Cortland.

Weather permitting, SUNY Niagara continues its NJCAA Region III slate with a doubleheader at Finger Lakes Community College starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Canandaigua. The Thunderwolves split last season’s doubleheader with the Lakers on April 17, 2025 in Sanborn — a 19-6 loss in Game One and a 14-5, six-inning win in Game Two. 

Game One: Corning Community College 15, SUNY Niagara 2, Final 5 innings

Corning scored four runs in the first for a 4-0 lead and later added nine runs in the third. The Red Barons recorded the 15 runs on 15 hits.

SUNY Niagara records its only two runs of the contest in the top of the fifth. After Mia Herman and Emmilie Sypherd drew a single and a walk, Jordan Shaffer recorded a one-run single (15-1 Corning). Sypherd later scored on Miranda Shingleton’s sacrifice fly (15-2 Corning).

SUNY Niagara finished the contest with five hits. Grace Schindler, Molly Syposs, Lauren Kisloski, Herman, and Shaffer all recorded a hit.  

Caitlyn Hanley threw 2.1 innings of work, allowed 10 runs on 10 hits and walked four. Madison Bainbridge then threw 1.2 innings and allowed four earned runs on five hits, struck out one and walked two.

Game Two: Corning Community College 8, SUNY Niagara 5

SUNY Niagara recorded the game’s first run in the bottom of the first and took a 1-0 lead. Corning then tied the contest at 1-1 in the top of the second.

The Thunderwolves then added one run in the bottom of the third as Grace Schindler brought home Jordan Shaffer on a one-run single (2-1 SUNY Niagara). The blue-and-gold scored twice in the bottom of the fourth after converting on a fielder’s choice (4-1 SUNY Niagara).

Corning then came back and scored six runs in the top of the seventh for an 8-4 lead. SUNY Niagara got one run back in the bottom of the seventh after Schindler sent Quinn Manth home on a sacrifice fly.

In the loss, Manth, Miranda Shingleton and Mia Herman recorded two hits each. Schindler went 1-for-4 in the game and drove in three runs. 

Shaffer and Emmilie Sypherd recorded one hit and scored one run. Along with recording a hit, Marissa Shingleton threw all seven innings. On 129 pitches, the freshman and North Tonawanda resident allowed two earned runs on 12 hits, walked three, and struck out four.