Thunderwolves take two of three during weekend homestand, record 10th win of season
*** PHOTO COURTESY OF GEOFF SCHNEIDER (GMSPHOTOWNY) ***
SUNY Niagara continued its season with three contests over the weekend at Grand Island High School. The Thunderwolves lost to Jefferson Community College, 5-2, Saturday, and bounced back with a 9-5 seven-inning win and an 18-15 eight-inning victory versus Onondaga Community College Sunday.
The victories against Onondaga Sunday marked SUNY Niagara’s third sweep in regional play this season (SUNY Adirondack on April 4 and Finger Lakes Community College on April 15). Ranked fourth in the NJCAA Region III Softball Coaches Poll for a second straight week on April 17, the Thunderwolves are now 8-1 when they score at least 10 runs in a contest this season.
After the three home contests, SUNY Niagara is now 10-12 overall and 9-4 in NJCAA Region III action. This is the Thunderwolves’ first 10-win season since 2023 and the fourth this decade (11 in 2021, 31 in 2022, 26 in 2023).
Weather permitting, SUNY Niagara continues its regular season with a doubleheader at Monroe Community College in Rochester. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 18
Jefferson Community College 5, SUNY Niagara 2
The visiting Cannoners scored one run in the top of the second and added four in the top of the third for a 5-0 lead. The Thunderwolves later scored twice in the bottom of the fifth.
Marissa Shingleton scored on an infield error (5-1 Jefferson). Quinn Manth then brought home Gianna Simone on a one-run triple to right field (5-2 Jefferson).
Manth, Simone and Miranda Shingleton all recorded one hit in the loss and the three hits marked a new single-game low for SUNY Niagara. Simone joined Marissa Shingleton as the only Thunderwolves to record a run.
In her 13th start of the season, Marissa Shingleton threw seven innings and allowed five runs on seven hits on 133 pitches (76 strikes). Shingleton also recorded four walks and a season-high nine strikeouts, surpassing her total of five (Mid Michigan College on March 14, SUNY Adirondack, April 4).
Game Two of the doubleheader was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Sunday, April 19
Game One: SUNY Niagara 9, Onondaga Community College 5, Final, 7 Innings
SUNY Niagara jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Caitlyn Hanley recorded a two-run single, Molly Syposs had a sacrifice flyout and Mia Herman had a one-run single.
After Onondaga scored two in the top of the fourth, the Thunderwolves scored three in the bottom of the frame and extended their lead to 7-2. Hanley and Miranda Shingleton scored on Lazers miscues, and Syposs had a one-run single.
Miranda Shingleton added a one-run single in the bottom of the fifth (8-3 SUNY Niagara). The Lazers then scored twice in the top of the sixth, cutting the deficit to three (8-5 SUNY Niagara).
The Thunderwolves then scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Leah Kresman scored on a wild pitch.
Miranda Shingleton, Hanley, and Quinn Manth recorded two hits and scored two runs each. Syposs drove in two runs and Mia Herman delivered one and Emmilie Sypherd had one hit.
On 114 pitches, Hanley threw seven innings and allowed four runs on eight hits along with two strikeouts and five walks.
Game Two: SUNY Niagara 18, Onondaga Community College 15, Final, 8 Innings
SUNY Niagara drew two walks during its first three at-bats and converted it into a 3-0 lead. Quinn Manth scored on a Lazers wild pitch and Cailtyn Hanley and Molly Syposs had a one-run single apiece.
The blue-and-gold then scored nine runs in the third and had a 9-0 lead. Jordan Shaffer had a two-run double and Miranda Shingleton had a one-run triple during the six-run sequence.
Onondaga scored five in the bottom of the third, cutting the Thunderwolves’ lead down to four runs (9-5 SUNY Niagara). Marissa Shingleton then a one-run double and sent home Emmilie Sypherd in the top of the fourth and gave SUNY Niagara a five-run lead, 10-5.
The Lazers scored four in the bottom of the fourth and cut the deficit to 10-9. The Thunderwolves then scored five in the top of the fifth, extending their lead to 14-9.
In the fifth, Miranda Shingleton had an inside-the-park home run. Later, Sypherd had a one-run double and Mia Herman had a two-run double.
Miranda Shingleton then provided a RBI groundout in the sixth and gave SUNY Niagara 15-9 through five-and-a-half innings. Once again, Onondaga erupted at the plate and scored six in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game at 15-15.
SUNY Niagara responded with three runs in the top of the eighth, thanks to Miranda Shingleton. She had a two-run single and later scored on Hanley’s sacrifice fly (18-15 SUNY Niagara). Hanley then retired the side, including her second and final strikeout of the game, for the Thunderwolves' win.
Miranda Shingleton went a team-best 3-for-5, drove in five runs and scored three times. Hanley had two hits and drove in two runs, while Syposs and Sypherd had two hits and brought in one run apiece.
Shaffer (two hits) and Herman (one hit) also drove in two runs each. Manth recorded one hit, drove in one run and scored three times and Schindler crossed home twice.
Marissa Shingleton drove in two runs on one hit and threw the first four innings. On 94 pitches, she allowed seven earned runs on seven hits along with four strikeouts and four walks.
Hanley then threw the final four innings and allowed one earned run on five hits along with two strikeouts and three walks. Forty-two of Hanley’s 76 pitches were strikes.